Panegyric for Michael Webber - 2
Eric Michael Webber, Dean Emeritus
photo courtesy Alexandra Grimshaw
24 June 2006
Liturgical achievements
First then, what about his achievements in what may loosely be described as matters liturgical? The family is well aware that Papa is still called “Dean Webber” or “Mr Dean”. It is true that he was appointed “Dean Emeritus” in 1998 - but the title “Dean” should not have been used after the 30th September 1971, the day he retired as Dean of Hobart, Rector of Saint David’s and Rural Dean. But the title continued to be used. Why so? I believe that Herbert Condon gives us the answer in an article he wrote entitled “The Deans at Saint David’s”. In the Church News of March 1980 Condon wrote:
Of all the Deans of Hobart, none has come closer to fulfilling the vision of Hobart Cathedral worship placed before us by Bishop Bromby in 1866.
Dean Webber brought to our Cathedral British-style care for beauty, order and precision in liturgical and musical matters rarely seen in Anglican Churches or Cathedrals outside England.
He was immaculate in leadership in all his Cathedral services.
He certainly fulfilled that example of sobriety and good taste envisaged by C.H. Bromby.
Possessed of a fine speaking voice, Dean Webber’s preaching was meticulous and beautiful.
Similarly, his work for radio and television was second to none; this was soon appreciated by the Australian Broadcasting Commission which invited him to be Federal Supervisor of Radio and Television Religious Programmes in 1961.
He was also the first Anglican in Tasmania to appear for ABC Television; and, despite much opposition, he arranged the first live telecast from the St David’s Cathedral.
He encouraged the use of the Cathedral for plays and concerts; had the Cathedral re-roofed; installed the new West window; introduced the Midnight Service at Christmas time; established the Flower Festival; re-vitalised Church News….
And, as part of his “Mission to the City” he encouraged attendance at week day services and study-groups.
Doubtless E.M. Webber’s best work was done in connection with preaching, radio and education; and he greatly improved the religion-in-school situation in Tasmania….
But it was with much regret that we lost from the Cathedral a man who set us such high standards in prayer, preaching and sacred music.
It was as though he expanded the notion of the liturgical at the Cathedral - yet he was very much concerned with its essentials. In the late 60’s, I believe the Cathedral congregation wanted a change in times for the Sunday services. Michael wrote in a pew sheet:
…because our religion must always be outward looking…the Communion can never be seen in its fullness as an aid to personal piety, and nothing more. In it the Christian community expresses its fellowship, its unity, in the Holy Spirit. That is why this Service, unlike Mattins or Evensong say, can never be held unless there are “Two, or three gathered together”. Moreover, the effect of this communion must express itself in acts of service (“Thou shalt love thy neighbour…” Luke 10:27).
And later:
At almost any Conference or Commission, discussion of liturgical matters stands high on the Agenda. Time and forms of service are being changed. The Prayer Book is being used as a guiding rein rather than as a restraining yoke. All the denominations are restoring the Communion service to its proper central place. “They were all together with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1-2) is taking on a fresh meaning.
In his instructions for his funeral service Michael wrote:
There will be a communion service.
The coming together to break bread was of enormous significance to him, but he asked that his funeral be restricted to friends and family as:
Large scale communions tend to be too casual and unseemly; and presumably… communion should stand for something pretty definite.
There was no panegyric at the funeral service, for as Michael put it:
Let the communion service say all that there is to be said.
This, I’m sure, goes to the heart of his understanding of the liturgical.
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