5:05pm Thursday 19th August 2010
By Alex Cameron
RIGHT Reverend Mervyn Alban Alexander, the eighth Bishop of Clifton, died on August 14 at St Angela’s Home in Clifton, Bristol.
Mervyn Alban Alexander was born on June 29, 1925, in Highbury, London, the eldest son of William and Grace Alexander.
The family moved from London to Salisbury, Wiltshire, when he was one year old.
He began his schooling at Salisbury's St Osmund's Catholic School and continued his studies at the city's Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School.
He later went to Prior Park College in Bath. He trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, Rome and was ordained priest on July 18, 1948, in the Leonine College, Rome.
He continued his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and obtained his doctorate in divinity in 1951.
Returning to England he was appointed assistant priest in the Cathedral parish, Clifton, Bristol, where he served from 1951 to 1964.
He acted as Chaplain to the Bristol Maternity and Homeopathic Hospitals.
He also became part-time Chaplain to the University of Bristol in 1953 and was appointed full-time Chaplain in 1964. During this time he opened the University Catholic Chaplaincy on Queens Road as a study and residential centre for students. The Chaplaincy continues to serve students today.
In 1967 he was appointed as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare, until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in the Clifton Diocese on April 25, 1972. On December 20, 1974, he was made Bishop of Clifton.
In addition to his work in the diocese he held a number of national posts. He was a member of the Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers (1973 to 1983), and Chairman of the National Commission for Non-Believers (1973 to 1983), Vice-Chairman of the Liturgy Commission (1977 to 1983), and Episcopal President of the Catholic Child Welfare Council (1976 to 1983). His interest in ecumenism was reflected in his role as Co-Chairman of the Roman Catholic / Methodist Committee (1976 to 1980), and his appointment as Co-Chairman of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1977. In 1982 he was Chairman of the committee concerned with spiritual preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to England and Wales. He was Chairman of the Committee for Art and Architecture (1983 to 1999), as well as Episcopal Adviser to Marriage Encounter from 1980. He presided at a Diocesan Synod which took place from 1987 to 1988.
In the Clifton Diocese Bishop Mervyn encouraged the growth of pastoral collaboration between clergy and laity. Under his leadership the diocese became one of the first to set up a Diocesan Pastoral Council and was the first Catholic diocese to appoint a lay person as Financial Administrator.
Having served as Chaplain to the University of Bristol he saw the need to encourage young people to become involved in the life of the Church. He also maintained the links between the diocese and South America and visited diocesan priests working there a number of times.
His personal hobbies and interests included reading, sport, in particular golf, music and walking.
In February 2001 Bishop Mervyn was recognised by the University of Bristol for his contribution to the life of the city and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws. The commendation speech was given by the then Bishop of Bristol Right Reverend Barry Rogerson.
He was succeeded as Bishop of Clifton by Bishop Declan Lang on the 28 March 2001.
On his retirement as Bishop he returned to Weston, as Parish Priest of St Joseph’s a role he fulfilled until 2008. He then moved to live at St Angela’s Convent in Clifton, Bristol.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed and will be made known on cliftondiocese.com as soon as possible.
Following the death of The Rt Rev Mervyn Alexander, the Bishop of Clifton Right Reverend Declan Lang paid his tribute.
He said: “I would like to pay tribute to a good and holy man who welcomed me with friendship when I was appointed as his successor. At the heart of Bishop Mervyn’s ministry was the model of the Good Shepherd who both knew and lay down his life for those he was called to serve.
“In his years as Bishop of Clifton, Bishop Mervyn guided the diocese through many changes and developments which originated from the Second Vatican Council. There were joys and tensions but in all of this Bishop Mervyn remained a loving pastor who had a deep love for God and people.
“He was intellectually gifted but was very unassuming about this. He also had a great sense of humour which helped everyone put things into perspective. That humour was appreciated by his fellow bishops who regarded him with great respect and affection.
“In the Bishops’ Conference Bishop Mervyn worked generously particularly in the area of dialogue with other faiths and people of no belief. He was also an active member of the Liturgy Commission having a keen interest in liturgical art and architecture. He was seen as someone with wise and considered judgment.
“When he retired as bishop of the diocese, Bishop Mervyn asked to take care of St Joseph’s, Weston-super-Mare. He was able to be what he had always wanted to be - a parish priest who was a good pastor. Our diocese owes Bishop Mervyn a depth of gratitude for his time as bishop. May he come to his fullness of life in God.”
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