A correspondent writes:
CANON Anthony John Meakin was born in what was then known as the County Borough of Rotherham, in 1928. He was educated at Rotherham Grammar School, and left school, as the head boy, with a Borough Major Scholarship. Most of his National Service was in the Intelligence Corps in Trieste.
After demob, he went to Downing College, Cambridge, initially to study modern languages. He threw himself into university life and was, in 1950, persuaded to join the university air squadron flying out of Marshall’s Airport. Apparently, he only had one “hairy” situation — pulling out of cloud at 165 knots in a pretty ancient Bristol Bulldog with a sluggish joystick.
The call to ordination became increasingly clear, and Tony switched to theology in his third year, before being accepted for training at Westcott House. He was ordained deacon on 19 September 1954 in Newcastle Cathedral, to serve his title at All Saints’, Gosforth. It was here that he met Ann, his wife of more than 60 years.
In 1960, they moved to Alnwick, where Tony was Vicar of St Paul’s for 11 years and where they had three children. It says a very great deal about the man that, even though he left the parish 50 years ago, he is still remembered with a great deal of affection not only by those of his friends who remain, but also by many of the younger people whose lives he touched.
It was during this time that he joined the territorial army, and served until retirement in 1983 having been awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) in 1976.
He became Rector of Whickham in 1971 and was quickly recognised in the diocese of Durham as a priest of integrity, warmth, and wisdom. He became Rural Dean of the newly created deanery of Gateshead West, chaired the diocesan stewardship committee, and was made an Honorary Canon of Durham Cathedral in 1983. During his time in Whickham, Tony also spent a period serving as chaplain to Gibside Chapel, a noble peculiar.
Tony filled his church with people of all ages. He was a wonderful pastor to those in need, had a head for strategy and was, in the very best of ways, energised by young people as he guided their first tentative steps into a life-long journey of faith. For Tony, young people were very much part of the Church of today rather than being the Church of tomorrow. He was unashamedly formed by the Parish Communion Movement to lead churches that were outward-looking, welcoming, prepared to try the “new”, but with the eucharist at the core.
Tony’s final years of paid ministry were served at Auckland Castle as Senior Chaplain to the Bishop of Durham, and Executive Officer for Diocesan Affairs. He brought an extraordinary wisdom to the post, working alongside the rather maverick Bishop David Jenkins. These five years were something of a mixed blessing, with their highs and their lows.
During his stipendiary ministry, Tony held to one guiding principle: that he was there to serve the people to whom he had been called to minister. He was concerned with the well-being of his flock and did a great deal of work, much of it unseen, to play a part in helping members of his congregations to be the best that they could be. Many would suggest that his talents could have been better used by the wider Church but that was not to be.
Tony retired in 1993 and was able to enjoy, with Ann, many travels and adventures all over the world, among other things completing 21 locums in chaplaincies in the diocese in Europe. He continued to play a part in the life of Durham Cathedral as an Honorary Canon Emeritus, and helped out in parishes until his health began to fail after a hip replacement.
He died at home on 1 April, aged 91, after a relatively short illness. While he was fearful of the Covid-19 virus, he did not catch it. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and two of his children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. When restrictions are lifted, a service to celebrate his life will be held in St Mary’s, Whickham, the parish that he served for 17 years.