By Revd Lucy Austin
On Monday afternoon more than a hundred and fifty, maybe up to two hundred people gathered at the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Stokenchurch to celebrate and give thanks to God for Dave Crozier, his life and what he meant to each one of them.

Many too, in different places near and overseas, would join in online because Dave had touched their lives with his humour, his genuine love for humanity and his lively wit.

For those whom he had briefly met as well as those whom he knew for most of his life none remain unmoved by his leaving to go to his eternal home. The service of thanksgiving was, in itself, an overwhelming tribute to the person who leaves a legacy few could ever hope to match.

The singing was glorious! All three carefully chosen hymns of praise carrying deep meaning in their words:

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise….
My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad the honours of your name.

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise….
My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad the honours of your name.

In Christ alone, my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid ground, …..
My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home,
what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And there proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Dave’s elder brother Peter spoke of their childhood, particularly mentioning that in his view ‘Dave never forgot anything from age 16 going forward.’ Dave certainly did do well at school but Peter also remembers that he struggled with languages. His Latin teacher wrote: “Hardly a linguist. Tries hard.”.
Dave’s second PhD was later to be achieved in the Nigerian language of Chisingini, the first having been in Biochemistry.

Dave’s eldest son John told with feeling of his father’s gift and love for teaching – whether helping with homework or tutoring students it was always with kindness and compassion. He said that many children think that their Dad is wonderful, knows everything and can do everything. But, John said, all the Crozier children believed that to be true of their Dad. He was also fun to play with, no matter what game you wanted.

The grandchildren supported that view as well, although none of them actually knew Dave before he had become ill with emphysema. Joel, the eldest grandson, said that he had asked his siblings and cousins each to describe Grandad in a single word. The results were revealing: faithful, considerate, patient, intelligent, loving, extraordinary. Dave’s family meant a great deal to him and he loved to spend as much time as possible with them.

The final tribute – on Dave’s work with Wycliffe – came from Matthew Harley. He spoke of the life of faith Dave lived all his days. An example of as godly man who enriched the lives of those around him. Matthew went on to read his own poem, written for Dave, entitled ‘The twinkle in his eye’. A small part of it follows:

Your bronchial trees were shedding their leaves and it couldn’t be reversed.

Breathing was often a struggle.

You endured it all so gracefully with Liz ever by your side

Trusting God there was an answer to the question ‘Why?’

And knowing always He was the one …. who put that twinkle in your eye!

Heather Ford Lark, who co-ordinated the service, gave a short reflection based on the reading from St Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian Christians. She emphasised that grieving is a necessary part of loss but that we, as Christians, do not grieve as those who have no hope. We believe and hope in Jesus who will take us all home, to be with Him forever.

So we can pray: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace”.

With love and many blessings

LucyA