David Say
Encyclopedia
Richard David Say KCVO
DD
(4 October 1914 – 14 September 2006) was a former bishop of Rochester
(1961-1988). He was often noted for his height (6ft 4in).
, Christ's College, Cambridge
, and Ridley Hall.
in Canterbury Cathedral
on 22 December 1939 and was ordained priest just 10 days later on 1 January 1940. He served his curacy at Croydon
(then in the Diocese of Canterbury
), then at St Martin-in-the-Fields
(Diocese of London
) where he was General Secretary of the Church of England Youth Council
. He later became General Secretary of the British Council of Churches, and (as a conscious disciple of William Temple and a close supporter of Bishop George Bell
) an Anglican representative at World Council of Churches
conferences. He retired from those roles in 1955 to parish ministry in Hatfield
(with the linked office of chaplain to the Marquess of Salisbury
).
. He also spoke in General Synod
in favour of church marriages for divorcés (1983) and of Anglican-Methodist reunion.
in the Canterbury Diocese until shortly before his death.
Say supported the city of Rochester, Chatham, Kent County Cricket Club
, the University of Kent
(serving as Pro Chancellor for several years) and, more recently, Canterbury itself. He was also for 18 years High Almoner to the Queen. He was honorary chaplain of the Pilgrims Society
from 1968 till 2002.
Stephen Venner
said:
His funeral occurred in the nave of Canterbury Cathedral
on 27 September 2006, and a public memorial service on 2 February 2007 at 2.30pm in his former cathedral
(with a sermon by the then-bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
). His wife Irene was a JP
and gardener, and died in 2003. They had a son and two daughters, all of whom survived them.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
DD
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(4 October 1914 – 14 September 2006) was a former bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
(1961-1988). He was often noted for his height (6ft 4in).
Early life and education
He was the son of Commander Richard Say, RNVR. He was educated at Arnold House Prep School, St John's Wood, University College SchoolUniversity College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, and Ridley Hall.
Priestly career
He was ordained deacon in the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
on 22 December 1939 and was ordained priest just 10 days later on 1 January 1940. He served his curacy at Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
(then in the Diocese of Canterbury
Diocese of Canterbury
The Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering eastern Kent, founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. It is centred on Canterbury Cathedral, and is the oldest see of the Church of England....
), then at St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
(Diocese of London
Diocese of London
The Anglican Diocese of London forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.Historically the diocese covered a large area north of the Thames and bordered the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln to the north and west. The present diocese covers and 17 London boroughs, covering most of Greater...
) where he was General Secretary of the Church of England Youth Council
Church of England Youth Council
The Church of England Youth Council is a body of young Christians from dioceses though out the Church of England. Its present incarnation was founded in 2004.-Functionality:...
. He later became General Secretary of the British Council of Churches, and (as a conscious disciple of William Temple and a close supporter of Bishop George Bell
George Bell (bishop)
George Kennedy Allen Bell was an Anglican theologian, Dean of Canterbury, Bishop of Chichester, member of the House of Lords and a pioneer of the Ecumenical Movement.-Early career:...
) an Anglican representative at World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
conferences. He retired from those roles in 1955 to parish ministry in Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
(with the linked office of chaplain to the Marquess of Salisbury
Marquess of Salisbury
Marquess of Salisbury is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1789 for the 7th Earl of Salisbury. Most of the holders of the title have been prominent in British political life over the last two centuries, particularly the 3rd Marquess, who served three times as Prime Minister...
).
Episcopal career
After his consecration as bishop in 1966, Say took a seat in the House of Lords from 1969 to 1988 (speaking there in 1986 on the admission of women into Holy Orders as deacons), and for some years deputised for the Archbishop of Canterbury as chairman of the board of governors of the Church CommissionersChurch Commissioners
The Church Commissioners is a body managing the historic property assets of the Church of England. It was set up in 1948 combining the assets of Queen Anne's Bounty, a fund dating from 1704 for the relief of poor clergy, and of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners formed in 1836...
. He also spoke in General Synod
General Synod
-Church of England:In the Church of England, the General Synod, which was established in 1970 , is the legislative body of the Church.-Episcopal Church of the United States:...
in favour of church marriages for divorcés (1983) and of Anglican-Methodist reunion.
Later life
On retirement from the bishopric (he was one of the last bishops not required to retire at 70, whilst the final words at his retirement service being “Alleluia — on we go”) he moved to Wye, where he was active in the parish, and was an Honorary Assistant BishopAssistant Bishop
An assistant bishop in the Anglican Communion is a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop.-Church of England:In the established Church of England, assistant bishops are usually are retired bishops – in which case they are honorary assistant bishops...
in the Canterbury Diocese until shortly before his death.
Say supported the city of Rochester, Chatham, Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
, the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
(serving as Pro Chancellor for several years) and, more recently, Canterbury itself. He was also for 18 years High Almoner to the Queen. He was honorary chaplain of the Pilgrims Society
Pilgrims Society
The Pilgrims Society, founded in 1902, is a British-American society established, in the words of American diplomat Joseph Choate, 'to promote good-will, good-fellowship, and everlasting peace between the United States and Great Britain'...
from 1968 till 2002.
Death and legacy
On Say's death, the bishop of DoverBishop of Dover
The Bishop of Dover is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after the town of Dover in Kent...
Stephen Venner
Stephen Venner
Stephen Venner DL is the present Bishop to the Forces and Bishop for the Falkland Islands in the Church of England.-Education and career:Venner studied English at the University of Birmingham and is a qualified teacher...
said:
- I was privileged to benefit from Bishop David's advice and friendship over the years. Even when I saw him a few days before he died, he typically ministered to me as much as I to him.
His funeral occurred in the nave of Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
on 27 September 2006, and a public memorial service on 2 February 2007 at 2.30pm in his former cathedral
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Norman church in Rochester, Kent. The bishopric is second oldest in England after Canterbury...
(with a sermon by the then-bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
Michael Nazir-Ali
Michael James Nazir-Ali was the 106th Bishop of Rochester in the Church of England: he retired in September 2009, taking up a position as director of the Oxford Centre for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue...
). His wife Irene was a JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and gardener, and died in 2003. They had a son and two daughters, all of whom survived them.
Quotations
- He believed the greatest danger to the Church of England was concentrating “on laundering our surplices” and forgetting its true mission, which was "from Corrymeela to Calcutta, washing the world’s feet”.
- “God is the God of the future as well as of the past”