John Stott’s Right Hand - J. E. M. Cameron

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over all’ to the tune Lydia. This exaltation of Christ, expressing a deep desire for wholehearted service of Christ, had been chosen by John Stott years earlier.

      Jesus! The name high over all

      In hell or earth or sky;

      Angels and men before it fall

      And devils fear and fly.

      The Procession made its way slowly down the aisle. As the hymn concluded, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishop of London were standing beneath the dome, facing the congregation. Something was different; something was missing, yet it took a moment to realize what it was. Here were the most senior Archbishops in the worldwide Anglican Communion, at a service in one of the best-known Cathedrals in the world. Yet they were not dressed in their usual ecclesiastical regalia; they were dressed in plain convocation robes. There were no stoles; no mitres; and the two Archbishops carried no crooks. This was surely out of honour for an evangelical statesman who never sought high office.

      The Revd Canon Mark Oakley, Canon in Residence of the Cathedral, read the Bidding:

      ...We remember with joy and thanksgiving the life of John Robert Walmsley Stott, a minister of the gospel, beloved pastor, Bible scholar, mentor and friend. His simple life of study and prayer, preaching, writing and discipling, helped shape the face of a 20th-century evangelical faith in Britain and around the world. He was valiant for truth, even when that was unfashionable ... John eschewed public accolades and ecclesiastical preferment and would be embarrassed by any service that dwelt on him or his achievements rather than pointing to his Saviour, crucified, risen and ascended...

      The sheer dimensions, and the formality, of St Paul’s Cathedral require a range of staff and servers. Wandsmen – servers dressed in robes and bearing wands – come to collect those who are about to address the congregation, and then lead them back to their seats afterwards. A wandsman duly came to collect Frances. Led by the wandsman, Frances approached the lectern when the Bidding Prayer ended. Michael Baughen, who had succeeded Stott as Rector of All Souls in 1975, introduced the tributes. ‘Frances Whitehead’, he said ‘knew John better than almost anyone.’

      Frances Whitehead’s opening tribute

      Those knowing the inner workings of John Stott’s office in Weymouth Street had a shrewd sense of Frances’s part in his ministry, but there were doubtless many in the Cathedral that morning who did not know. This in itself bore testimony to the spirit she brought to her role. Pressing her fine gifts into service, to enable John to serve Christ more effectively, she became a major means of multiplying his ministry. He could rely on her, and he did rely on her.

      Frances laid her notes on the lectern and looked up. She spoke with authority, winsomeness and clarity. Few indeed could have known John Stott as well as she did:

      Many tributes from all over the world have already been paid to John Stott. So I have asked myself what could I say that has not already been said, by way of gratitude to God for John’s life. As for me, I know nothing but thankfulness for John himself, for his godly example, his concern for others regardless of race, colour or creed, and his faithful biblical preaching through which the light of Christ had first dawned on me.

      Because I worked alongside him as his secretary for 55 years, perhaps I more than anybody can testify to the fact that, in his case, familiarity, far from breeding contempt, bred the very opposite – a deep respect, and one which inspired faith in the one true God. The more I observed his life and shared it with him, the more I appreciated the genuineness of his faith in Christ, so evident in his consuming passion for the glory of God, and his desire to conform his own life to the will of God. It was an authentic faith that fashioned his life – it gave him a servant heart and a deep compassion for all those in need, one that moved him to keep looking for ways in which he might be of encouragement and support to others, sharing his friendship and his own resources.

      To work with John was to watch a hard-working man of great discipline and self-denial, but at the same time to see a life full of grace and warmth. His standards were high and he took trouble over all that he did; nothing was ever slapdash. He was consistent in every way and always kept his word. Although so gifted himself, he never made me feel inferior or unimportant. Instead, he would share and discuss his thoughts and plans with his study assistant and me, listening to our contributions, and eager to ensure consensus between the three of us – the ‘happy triumvirate’ as he would call us. So I found him easy to please and ever grateful for one’s service.

      The Scriptures lay at the heart of all John’s teaching and preaching. His ability to interpret them was not simply a matter of the intellect, but of a heart full of love for Christ, and a longing to serve him faithfully, no matter what the cost in human terms. For he believed and submitted himself to the sovereignty of God and the Lordship of Christ in his own life – and he accepted the authority of the Bible as the word of God, regardless of ridicule by some.

      Indeed, John taught and practised what he believed, and I thank God for the way he pointed me constantly to Jesus. ‘Don’t look at me’, he would say. ‘Look at Jesus and listen to him.’ But he also demonstrated the truth of what he was saying by his own example of obedience. This was the powerful magnet that drew people to put their faith in Christ as the Son of God and Saviour of the world. He believed that Christ lived on earth, died on the cross for our salvation, and will come again one day in glory. He believed that death is not the end, and that there will be a new creation in which we may all share, through repentance and faith in Jesus.

      Thank God that John deeply believed all these truths, lived in the light of them, and maintained them, right to the very end. John’s life was a wonderful example of what it means to be a true Christian – and what a blessing he was to all those who were privileged to know him.

      Called, chosen and faithful

      The service closed with Timothy Dudley-Smith’s much-loved hymn ‘Lord, for the Years’. Noel Tredinnick once more raised his baton and the All Souls Orchestra played the introduction as the congregation stood. With conviction, 2,000 voices sang:

      Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,

      Urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,

      Sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided,

      Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

      Frances had spoken of John Stott’s integrity and consistency, and of his self-discipline and his obedience. His life was an example to follow; for like the Apostle Paul, John followed Christ’s example. The final verse of the hymn summed up the prayerful aspiration of all as the service drew to a close:

      Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us,

      Self on the cross and Christ upon the throne;

      Past put behind us, for the future take us,

      Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

      The congregation sat or kneeled as the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London led the final prayers, then the

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