Hon. OW & Staff Member 1975 - 1988
We have been notified of the sad death of The Reverend Barry Jackson – Chaplain Wycliffe College 1975-1988 – who passed away on December 10th aged 90. Our thoughts and best wishes are with his family and those who knew him well.
The following is taken from The Wycliffe Star journal, No. 283, 1988:
“Barry Jackson retired from the Chaplaincy of Wycliffe College at Easter to return to a parish, having been appointed Vicar of Heathfield in Sussex. The twelve years of his Chaplaincy have been distinguished by a gentle sincerity and warmly sympathetic counselling of staff and pupils alike.
Barry came to Wycliffe in 1975 from the parish of Thurloxton, near Taunton in Somerset. He had also taught Classics at Bishop Fox’s School in addition to his priestly duties. Previously he had taught at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, prior to training for ordination at Wescott House, Cambridge.
Barry is a gentle and thoughtful man, who expresses disappointment rather than anger, who always seeks to repair rather than remonstrate and who, by epitomising Christian humility, is easily imposed upon. He is generous with his time, unfailingly tolerant, too patient with fools and always ready to alter his own arrangements for the convenience of others. In today’s competitive environment, these qualities are too often denigrated or disregarded and, in the struggle for mercenary goals, such attributes rarely engender the respect that they might have merited in more altruistic times. For a School Chaplain the times are harsh indeed and it is asking much to wait for justification in heaven for the purgatory experienced on earth.
Barry sought solace and an outlet for his creative talents in music. He is a most competent pianist and composer and we have been privileged on many occasions to have his chamber works performed by pupils, it was fitting that, at the last Assembly of the Spring Term, the school should receive the first performance of ‘Fiesta’, a piece for flute and piano, performed by Paul Vick and Siew-Li Kok. After the performance the composer took his bow to tumultuous applause.
The indefatigable Betty has been a great support to Barry in all his work at Wycliffe, but she will be remaining with us for the remainder of the academic year before she hands over as Housemistress of Ivy Grove. She will receive our thanks in her own right in the next edition of The Star.
We thank Barry for his many kindnesses and wish him happiness and satisfaction in his new appointment.”
