We announce the sad news of the death of Fr Cedric Stanley MBE at St Michael’s Care Home in Clacton on Sea on 25th June 2024.
Fr Stan was born in Hertfordshire on 5th October 1935 and ordained to the priesthood at St Edmund’s College, Ware on 11th June 1960. When he retired as Parish Priest at Harefield he continued to live in the parish until February this year when he moved to Clacton.
Condolences are extended to Fr Stan’s family, friends and colleagues and to the parishioners of the parishes where he served in the diocese.
Fr Stan’s mortal remains will be received at the Church of St Paul, Harefield on Monday 22nd July at 11.30am. His Funeral Mass will follow immediately, with Bishop Paul McAleenan presiding.
We pray for the repose of Fr Stan’s soul:
Lord Jesus, our Redeemer,
you willingly gave yourself up to death so that all people might be saved and pass from death into a new life.
Listen to our prayers, look with love on your people who mourn and pray for Fr Stan.
Lord Jesus, holy and compassionate, forgive his sins.
By dying you opened the gates of life for those who believe in you.
Do not let our brother be parted from you, but by your glorious power give him light, joy and peace in heaven where you live for ever and ever.
Amen.
In Word and Sacrament, Fr Stan was a faithful minister of the Lord. May he be granted a place at God's heavenly table.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Obituary
Fr Cedric Arthur John Stanley MBE was widely known as ‘Fr Stan’ to fellow clergy and parishioners, ‘Ced’ to family and friends. Known, and loved, by the numerous people who benefitted from his open house offering hospitality and accommodation to patients waiting for transplants or other surgery at Harefield Hospital, and by relatives and friends of hospital patients during his time as Parish Priest at St Paul’s, Harefield and as hospital chaplain since 1986. Fr Stan’s open house ministry of hospitality continued during his retirement from 2012. It was, literally, ‘open house’, Fr Stan never locked the door to his home on Dunster Close.
Cedric Stanley was born on 5 October 1935 at Old Hall Green in Hertfordshire. The family home was very close to St Hugh’s Preparatory School and St Edmund’s College, Ware where Cedric was educated and where he trained for the priesthood. His parents, Brian and Rita, were staunch Catholics. Cedric’s father was a doctor who worked locally and at the Hertford Hospital, Rita was a nurse. Care for the sick and vulnerable was to be a feature of Cedric’s life and ministry, unsurprisingly. As a school boy, and as a seminarian, Cedric was shy and conscientious, and also very devout. In 1957, when Cedric was in his second year of theology studies, the report on his progress at St Edmund’s College stated ‘…he works well for the common good’. It was noted that he had ‘sound common sense’, ‘great public spirit’ and ‘independence of character’. He was a good student and while not an academic he did excel at rugby. During his years as a seminarian at St Edmund’s, from 1954-60, Cedric ran the college farm under the direction of the philosophy professor. Every afternoon he changed his cassock and collar for farming clothes and boots. He looked after the pigs, chickens and turkeys ensuring they were well fed and cared for. The animals, in turn, provided food for the seminary staff and students. He was ordained to the priesthood in the college chapel on 11 June 1960 by Bishop David Cashman.
Fr Stan’s first appointment as a priest was to St Mary and St Michael, Commercial Road where he served as Assistant Priest from 1960-62. He was then appointed Assistant Priest at Our Lady’s, St John’s Wood where he remained until 1966 when he moved to Guardian Angels, Mile End. Fr Stan had requested to be appointed to a parish with a hospital. His request was granted. He returned to Commercial Road, serving as Assistant Priest from 1969 until 1975. During his years in east London Fr Stan was involved with the chaplaincy at the London Hospital in Whitechapel. In 1975 he was appointed Parish Priest at Our Lady of Sorrows and St Bridget of Sweden, Isleworth. Ten years later he was appointed Parish Priest at St Paul’s, Harefield where he remained until his retirement. Fr Stan was a skilled counsellor of patients and their families, and a source of support for healthcare professionals at the hospital. He also became involved with the chaplaincy at Hillingdon Hospital. He was a popular Parish Priest who made time for people, as well as for his family and friends. He cared deeply for other people and he would sacrifice his own needs and convenience as he met the needs of people who came to him or those that he sought out. He would travel across the diocese to attend the funerals of priests whether known or unknown to him. His devoted service and care for people in their time of need was given public recognition in The Queen’s birthday honours in 2006 with Fr Stan being awarded MBE, not least for fifty years of ministry in healthcare chaplaincy with the NHS. At the time of his award he commented: ‘To be included in The Queen’s birthday honours is very special. I would like to think it represents all chaplains of different denominations and faiths combining work in parishes with hospital chaplaincy. I have been so fortunate to be supported by all at Harefield Hospital; a humbling and uplifting experience.’ A Director at the hospital said, ‘Congratulations to Fr Stan for receiving an MBE. He works tirelessly for the hospital alongside patients and staff of all faiths and always has a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. It is thoroughly deserved.’
During his retirement Fr Stan was content to remain in his home on Dunster Close in Harefield. He continued to offer supply ministry in local parishes and he maintained contact with family and friends. He also kept up his habit of many years, an early morning swim in the local pool! Failing mobility and increasing health concerns were evident from 2018. Fr Stan was well supported by friends and neighbours and was reluctant to relocate to accommodation perhaps better suited to his needs. Significant support was provided by nurses from the Keralan Catholic community who worked at Harefield Hospital. Over the years he had been welcoming to workers from overseas, helping them to find accommodation and helping them to feel ‘at home’ in the UK. He was respectful of their customs and practices.
For the last two years of his life Fr Stan bore his situation being bed-bound and often in pain with courage and without complaint. In July 2023 Fr Stan’s sister Angela, who was living in South Africa, died. Fr Stan was able to watch the Funeral Mass by live stream, a great comfort to him. On 19 February 2024 Fr Stan was transported by ambulance from Dunster Close to live at St Michael’s Care Home on the seafront at Clacton-on-Sea. He died there, peacefully, on 25 June at the age of eighty-eight.
May the kind and generous soul of Fr Stan rest in peace and rise in glory.
