The parish was deeply saddened by the passing of our organist Dr Donald Davison who died on Thursday evening 1 August 2013, the day before he and Rosemary were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Donald had been organist in St John's for 36 years.
A funeral Eucharist was held in St John's on
Wed 7 August when the Celebrant was the Right Revd Edward Darling, and
the address given by the Very Revd John Mann, both former Rectors of
Malone. Our current Rector, the Revd Robert Jones led the Penitential
Kyries and Intercessions.
Address by the Very Revd J O Mann
Tributes were paid to Donald's outstanding
achievements as a lecturer in Applied Mathematics and in Liturgical
music, and especially in his work on the Church Hymnal. The large
congregation were representative of the many aspects of his life.
Dr Donald Davison was someone who served the Church of Ireland in so many ways. A very moving tribute has been paid to him by my colleague Bishop Harold as chair of the Liturgical Advisory Committee and Hymnal Supplement Committee.
I had the delight of being with Donald in his parish church just over a week before his death when through his determination he played at parish communion. His comments on my sermon were incisive and encouraging and his musical ability was exceptional as always. He made the organ dance and soar. He will be greatly missed by so many but particularly his family.
We were also very grateful for his years of service to the diocese on council and synod and various committees. His agile mind and deep concern for parishes was always a gift to us all.
To Rosemary and his family I offer my love and prayers as they say farewell to someone who is irreplaceable. Indeed as a diocese we assure them of our thankful remembrance of Donald and we will continue to support them with our prayers.”
+Alan
Connor
As chair of the Liturgical Advisory Committee, and of the Hymnal Supplement Committee, I wish to express something of our deep sense of loss at the death of Donald Davison earlier this week.
I first met Donald in his academic role in the world of mathematics at Queen’s University Belfast. Maths and Music were his particular areas of gifting, and lived out with equal passion and ability.
He had a profound role in the music of Church Hymnal 5, which can be seen alone by how often his name occurs in the music of that volume. But his whole life was undergirded by a deep and intelligent Christian faith. In his most recent work on the Hymnal Supplement, he never missed a word, or even a comma, and would fearlessly but gently challenge any theology he considered to be inadequate: and he knew a great deal about theology from his wide reading.
We will miss Donald greatly, and I wish to convey, on behalf of the LAC and Supplement Committee, and on my own behalf, our love and assurance of prayer to his wife, Rosemary, who was just preparing to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and to the wider family.