Diocese of Down & Dromore

Last weekend, one of the great Bible Teachers of our generation, died.  Derick Bingham regularly taught the scriptures in the Crescent Church on University Road for more years than we can remember.  At its height, it was almost impossible to get a seat at 'Tuesday night in the Crescent', appealing to people from far and wide and not least to students from Queen’s.  There are many people who found their love for the Bible greatly increased by Derick’s preaching.  Derick came from the Brethren tradition, and very much at the ‘open’ end.  He saw the good in every denomination and developed good relationships across the board.  This time last year, I had invited Derick to preach on St. Patrick’s Day at the Pilgrimage Service in Down Cathedral.  He had been on the pilgrimage as a humble pilgrim never pushing himself forward and had written a booklet on St. Patrick for the Cathedral, which is given out regularly to visitors. Sadly, he was diagnosed with leukaemia just before he was due to preach.  I know from his wife Margaret, that it was a great sadness to him that he couldn’t make it.  Later in 2009, he had a period of remission, by the grace of God.  I met him when preaching in another ‘Brethren-rooted’ Church and he was full of interest in my predecessor, Bishop Jeremy Taylor.  He was to come to see Jeremy Taylor’s ‘chest’ at the See House, but again, sadly, it wasn’t to be.  I had the privilege of ministering to Derick several times in hospital - sharing holy communion with him, reading the scriptures and anointing him.  During his illness he compiled a wonderful little book of his letters written while seriously ill called ‘North of Shadowlands’.  Read it – it is one of the most honest and godly little books on illness and healing I know.  It shows the kind of person Derick was – honest, deep, thoughtful, imaginative and above all a disciple to the end.  Those who heard William Crawley’s interview with Derick at the end of last year on ‘Sunday Sequence’ will treasure it as one of the most powerful interviews you have ever heard.  Now Derick is with the Lord.  He wanted his death to be a witness as well as his life.  And it is.  He died trusting in the Cross of Christ.  I read him the words from ‘O Sacred Head’ – Be thou my consolation, my shield when I must die, Remind me of thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.Mine eyes shall then behold thee, upon thy cross to dwellMy heart by faith enfold thee, who dieth thus, dies well.