Chads News - 25th Mar 2026

Dear Church Family,

On Monday I attended the funeral of the late Bishop Andrew Watson in Guildford Cathedral.  Andrew was my training incumbent (vicar who trained me as a curate) and died tragically fast aged 64 of pancreatic cancer a couple of weeks ago.

It was an extraordinary service, Guildford Cathedral (which is huge!) was packed and everything was done so beautifully.  I want to share with you, three things from the service which particularly struck me.

The first was the extraordinary tribute from Andrew’s son Joe, who is in his early thirties.  Not only did he deliver his tribute beautifully, no small feat in a packed cathedral, but the content was very powerful. In the presence of 2,000 people, including around 40 Bishops and Archbishops, along with many dignitaries, robes and processions Joe shared personally about his Dad.  There were so many there who knew Andrew as a Bishop, colleague and friend, he touched our lives, but his primary calling was to love his family.   It was a stark reminder of the value of family and the calling each of us have to love and prioritise those who matter most to us.  

Funerals are always a moment of reflection and help us refocus on what really matters.  What Joe retained and expressed powerfully, was the experience of being valued and loved by his Dad.  We live in a busy, accelerated world, we can get consumed by so many things.  This Easter take time away from the ‘world out there’, to make memories with those who matter most to you.

The second memory from yesterday was Andrews’ eldest daughter Hannah, an outstanding musician, playing a stunning piece of piano music.  I cannot capture in words the beauty of that moment.  Amidst the crowds and colour, the prayers and processions, the mitres and the memories, between a grand piano and a plain coffin, the final quiet notes gently drifted into silence.  It was this poignant stillness which enabled all of us who, knew, loved and admired Andrew to let our hearts catch up and fully engage in what we were feeling.  

This Easter, amidst the chocolate and cards, school holidays and social events, look for moments of stillness in which you can hear what your heart is telling you.  Stopping to be still in church each day at 6pm has been a space for that and we’re keeping going until Easter.  Our Easter services include plenty of space and reflection, our prayer stations will help you to pray. Whether in music, birdsong or silence, don’t crowd out the spacious moments where you can catch up with what you are feeling.

And the third memory from Monday’s funeral, was the unifying clarity of the core of our faith.  There were Christians of all shapes and sizes, from all sorts of church backgrounds, all united around the core of our faith.  That Jesus died so that we can be forgiven, and rose so that we might have hope of eternal life.

In his final letter to his diocese Andrew wrote: “I don’t fear the prospect of dying and find to my relief that my faith in the ‘resurrection of the body and the life everlasting’ has only grown stronger of the past few weeks”.   That is the faith we celebrate this Easter.

So this Easter, amidst the readings and reflections, the prayers and praise, the coffee and chocolate, don’t miss the opportunity to focus on the core truth of the gospel. Jesus death and resurrection, give us eternal hope.  As we focus on them, our faith too can grow stronger.

With love,

Richard.

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