The flag was at half mast last Wednesday to mark the funeral of our former vicar, John Ryall. The following obituary comes from another former vicar, David Bevington.
David writes:
A former Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight described John to me as “a traditional Anglican scholar-priest”. He had studied at Oxford and Cambridge – which his family quipped must have made it difficult to decide which to support in the Boat Race. He served curacies in the Diocese of Portsmouth, including one in Freshwater, and after a couple of incumbencies in Chelmsford Diocese, came to Shalfleet and Thorley in 1980. In 1982 the parish groupings changed: Thorley became linked with Yarmouth, and Shalfleet with Calbourne and Newtown.
John was married to Doris. His absent-mindedness caused frequent mirth locally, but Doris’s organisational talents made them an effective partnership. They lived in Shalfleet’s 1930s vicarage – now Mallard House – and made deep friendships with local people.
They retired to Wellow in 1995, and joined the congregation at Newport Minister. John had a valued ministry helping out in Island churches, and led communion services in residential homes – a ministry he continued until recently as a resident himself. Sadly Doris died in 1999. Friendship with another member of the Minster congregation, Pat Lower, blossomed into romance, and John and Pat married. Sadly Pat too died before John.
In 2015 John returned to Somerset to receive residential care in Dunkirk Memorial Home, Bishops Lydeard, where his brother Michael was then also a resident. He died peacefully after a short illness.
A good congregation joined his nephew Rupert and niece Wendy for his funeral in Shalfleet Church, where he is buried with Doris.
John was proud to receive recognition of 60 years’ ordained ministry from Buckingham Palace, and we give thanks for his faithful ministry in our churches and communities.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
David Bevington (former incumbent)