Obituary of Canon Francis Henry Gripper
Harry Gripper died on November 25th, 1973, aged 62. After a distinguished career at Cambridge he began his ministry as curate of Wigan Parish Church and then he moved to Tonbridge School where his offices as assistant chaplain, chaplain and house-master covered twenty-five years. It was almost impossible, in the south-east of England, to say that you came from Rochester without being asked about Harry Gripper.
The questioner was bound to have been taught by him, or married by him, or done something to by him! On the stage of the Central Hall in Chatham I was privileged to interview a Kent and England cricketer, an ex-Tonbridgian. He paid a great tribute to Harry Gripper, and the fact that he was there talking to me in front of this audience about the Christian faith was largely because of what he had learned from his Chaplain at Tonbridge. The memorial service at the school, to which many old boys came, was a great tribute indeed.
In 1965 he moved to Rochester as a Canon Resi_ dentiary. He used to smile when he told you that people talked about his "retirement" after leaving Tonbridge. He worked harder than ever. Being a first-class mathematician as well as an able theologian he was invaluable in the office of treasurer of the Cathedral. But although this was a great asset his greater contribution was made in the pastoral care that he gave to so many people. His preaching was always interesting, stimulating and sometimes provoca-tive. Some of us will not forget the experience of trying to quieten down some of the City Fathers after a Civic Service in which he had been rather more outspoken, even than usual.
Having spent so much of his life in a public school he was particularly interested in our own King's School and gave of his time and energy unsparingly as a Governor and member of the Finance Committee.
He had a great interest in the music of the Cathedral and was a great help to the Rochester Choral Society as its chairman.
Before he died he said that his work as Warden of the Diocesan Readers was one of the happiest things that he had ever done. In those last days of his life he read a book called Let God Arise, which he found a tremendous inspiration. He recommended that this be read by all his Readers. He did a great deal to enhance the beauty of the Cathedral, and of the many great enterprises in which he was engaged perhaps the Flower Festival was the greatest of all. The success of this owed an enormous amount to his inspiration and work. He combined a wonderful gaiety, making him extremely good company, with a deep spirituality which enabled him to be such an effective spiritual director. He was sustained by his very happy family life in which I think it is fair to say he was a veritable pillar of strength himself. His last days he spent at Burrswood, which in the circumstances he found the happiest of places in which to be cared for. His triumphant witness to the power of the Risen Christ through these days was an inspiration to all who came into contact with him, and he was being used by God right up to the very end. We shall continue to miss him very much in so many ways, but we thank God for him, for his life and for the privilege of having had him in our fellowship here.
S.W.B.
The Friends of Rochester Cathedral were founded to help finance the maintenance of the fabric and grounds. The Friends’ annual reports have become a trove of articles on the fabric and history of the cathedral.
Canons, colleagues, volunteers and staff have shared their memories and reflections in many forms over the years.