Joseph Farrelly, KCSG RIP

Joseph Farrelly

The funeral of Joseph Farrelly, KCSG, who died on 31 August, took place on 22 September at his parish church of 42 years, St Elphege in Wallington. An indefatigable character, he was a pivotal figure in the development of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ESBVM), founded in 1967. Following the death of the founder, Martin Gillett, in 1980, he became Associate General Secretary, promoting an ecumenical understanding of Mary's place in the life of the Church through international congresses, local conferences, and publications. ESBVM papers provided resources for ARCIC's document Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ in 2004.

In 1989, he was made a Knight of St Gregory in recognition of his services to the church and ecumenism at the instigation of Cardinal Suenens A decade later he became Knight Commander of the Order.

Leading Methodist ,The Reverend Prebendary Norman Wallwork said: "Joe believed that Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Reformed and Methodist theologians and thinkers - clergy and laity alike - could be serious, spiritual and critical together about the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the worship, reflection and dialogue of all the mainstream churches. Often graciously and amusingly critical of those inside the leadership of his own tradition it was out of his deep and loyal Catholicism that Joe formed lasting relationships with church leaders and shakers across the Christian spectrum. He had close friends within British Methodism, and for almost twenty years attended the Annual Low Weekend Conference of the Methodist Sacramental Fellowship. He was above all an encourager who built on the potential he saw in the young - ordained and lay."

The eldest of five children, he was born in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, Ireland on 10th March 1917. The family soon moved to Castleknock, Dublin and it was in Dublin that he met Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary. They became good friends and 'Joe' became a stalwart of this new lay apostolate. Later he became treasurer and president of the London Senatus of the Legion of Mary where, a decade before the Second Vatican Council, ecumenism was a key part of their work.

In 1943 he moved to England as a mechanical engineer and signed up with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers regiment. He served as an NCO. From 1944 - 47 in India, where he helped to set up a Catholic club for servicemen.

After a brief period with the civil service he trained to be a teacher at Trent Park Training College, London . He became Head of English at St Francis' school, Peckham, then Head of RE. and house-master at St Thomas the Apostle school, Nunhead, both in South London. After his retirement in 1982. he was a governor at the latter until 2005. A former head boy ,taught by Mr Farrelly, was Master of Ceremonies at the Requiem Mass concelebrated by parish priest, Fr Paul Hough, and Fr Bill McCloughlin OSM, current Hon.General Secretary of the ESBVM.,who delivered the eulogy,speaking affectionately of his great humour,devotion and enthusiasm
Bishop Howard Tripp,unable to attend, sent a fulsome message of praise "for this servant of the Church".

In the 1950's Joe Farrelly was co- founder of the Society of St John Chrysostom, an ecumenical organisation with a a particular focus on dialogue with Eastern Christianity. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Fellowship of St Alban and St Sergius with Anglicans and Orthodox. Christians.

He was a representative on the National Council of Lay Associations from 1953-94 and served on the Southwark ecumenical commission. He was committed to several Catholic Marian societies and Catholic agencies dedicated to the homeless and destitute. In the 1980's he became increasingly involved with the Liberal party, becoming chairman of the local constituency and standing as a local councillor for Carshalton and Wallington.

He married Ann Lapthorn in 1959. They had five children, a son and four daughters, one of whom predeceased him.

For the last decade of his life Joe suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, during which time his wife, Ann, cared for him devotedly. Despite his illness, he maintained his characteristic humour and welcoming smile. His roots in the Republic of Ireland remained an important focus, even in his last years. The Irish Tricolour was draped over his coffin as he journeyed to his final resting place at Bandon Hill cemetery, Wallington. May he rest in peace.