FORMER Church of Ireland bishop James Mehaffey has been remembered as a “peacemaker” at his funeral in Derry.
Retired All-Ireland Primate Lord Robin Eames said it was significant that the funeral on Saturday was taking place at the same time the Stormont Executive was being restored.
Figures from across religious, political, sporting and civic life attended the service of thanksgiving at St Columb’s Cathedral.
They included Pat Hume, wife of former SDLP leader John Hume, former Foyle MP Mark Durkan, DUP East Derry MP Gregory Campbell, former Stormont speaker Lord William Hay and Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson.
They were joined by the former deputy chairman of the Policing Board, Denis Bradley, the head of Cooperation Ireland, Peter Sheridan, and Olympic medallist Dame Mary Peters.
All the main Churches were represented, including Methodist Rev Richard Johnston, Rev Colin McKibbon of the Presbyterian Church and Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown who read one of the readings.
Mourners also included the recently retired Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, and his successor Andrew Forster.
Dr Mehaffey, who served as bishop of Derry from 1980 until 2002, died last Monday at the age of 88.
His close friendship with his Catholic counterpart, the late Bishop Edward Daly, led to the creation of a number of bridge-building projects during some of Derry’s darkest days.
These included the establishment of the Inner City Trust which used bombed-out buildings in the city centre as a means of training young people.
Bishop Mehaffey’s remains were carried into St Columb’s by fellow Church of Ireland clergymen, including his close friend of many years, William Morton, former Dean of Derry and now Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
In an emotional tribute, his daughter Wendy Gledhill told mourners that her father and mother (Thelma Mehaffey) were a “dynamic duo” throughout his ministry.
She said her father took great joy from the company of other people and she paid tribute to his “great smile” of welcome.
Mrs Gledhill revealed he had a passionate interest in rugby as a player and a supporter.
As a teenager, he played at Portadown College and was called for a trial with the Ulster under-17 side. He later played with Ballynahinch club until the age of 49.
In a poignant tribute, she also highlighted her father’s devotion to her mother and family, noting the death of her brother Philip in 1993.
“With so much love and thanks to you my beautiful dad,” she said.
Lord Eames, who preceded Dr Mehaffey as bishop of Derry, described him as a “remarkable servant of God and his Church”.
He said he always remained true to the commands he was given at his installation as bishop to “hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost”.
Lord Eames also said that Bishop Mehaffey fostered reconciliation through his work with Bishop Daly and that work must never be lost sight of.
“For Bishop Jim, this was his priority as he worked with Edward and other leaders to bind up the broken, to heal the wounds but mostly to make people remember why you’re here; that in the short gift of a lifespan, you must grasp at every opportunity to do things for the good of all".
Bishop Mehaffey will be cremated at Roselawn today.
