THE village of Tilford gathered to say goodbye to their friend and priest, Canon Heather Humphrey a few days before Easter.

More than 230 people filled All Saints Church for a Service of Thanksgiving on Wednesday, March 28, to hear about her life and calling, surrounded by jars of beautiful daffodils, her favourite flowers.

Heather had chosen the music for her funeral which included John Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing.

The eulogy was given by Heather’s long-term friend and advisor Canon John Ridout. He spoke of her love of poetry and appreciation of nature but her greatest strength lay in her ability to love.

The service was taken by Rev John Morris, vicar of the Bourne and Tilford and attended by Rt Rev Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford, Rt Rev Jo Wells, Bishop of Dorking and Archdeacon of Surrey, Paul Davies.

Bishop Andrew gave the blessing at the end and the coffin was taken out to the choir singing In Paradisum from Faure’s Requiem.

Afterwards everyone was welcomed to a tea in the Tilford Institute, served by the ladies of the WI, of whom Heather was a committed member, and congregation.

Rev Humphrey died at home on February 23 just days after she was involved in a car crash outside Frensham Garden Centre. She was 72 years old.

Surrey Police’s serious collision investigation unit is investigating the collision, between Rev Humphrey’s black Suzuki Celerio and a blue Mercedes Vito van at around 12.40pm on February 19 in The Reeds Road.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has any other information, is asked to contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting incident reference PR/P18040353.

Rev Humphrey was born in Stoke on Trent in the heart of the Potteries, and came to Anglican ministry quite late in life, aged 40, after a teaching career.

At the time no women priests were allowed, the most a woman going into the ministry could hope for was to be a deacon. But she accepted this and decided that she would be obedient to what was on offer.

She was ordained deacon in 1990 never imagining, “the barriers would be lifted” and in 1994 she was ordained in Worcester Cathedral with the very first women to be priested. “Something I have never ever regretted,” she said.

A mother of two and grandmother, Rev Humphrey arrived in Tilford in January 2014 having served as an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral, and before that as a vicar in the Midlands, and embraced the “new and joyful chapter” in her life.

Reflecting on her sudden loss, Andrew Napier, churchwarden at All Saints Church, said: “I will never forget the first time we met Heather at her interview process around four years ago. From her beaming smile to her calm and deep faith, she was clearly the right person for us.

“Those four years seem to have flown by. Heather was always a bundle of energy and ideas. But perhaps above all, so many of us would have described her not just as our priest but as a true friend.

“She threw herself into village life, whether it was the WI, the Art Club or the Tilford Bach Society.

“Our thoughts and prayers at this time are especially with Heather’s family.

“We hope they will find some solace in the knowledge that their mum truly influenced people’s lives for the better. We will miss her.”