A last farewell at the Washington National Cathedral to Charles Perry

On Sunday evening, I had one of those extraordinary experiences when it is fun (yes, fun!) to be an Episcopal priest.

The occasion was the interment of the ashes of The Very Rev. Charles Perry at the Washington National Cathedral. I definitely believe my friend Charles would approve of the word “fun.”

I was privileged to be invited to participate in an Evensong in Charles’ honor. We did it in full cassock-surplice-hood-tippet splendor, with vergers, acolytes, two choirs and a host of clergy. It was Charles’ gift to me that I could be a part.

I must admit I had goose bumps when walking in the procession down the center aisle, led by a verger, and up into the quire. Lori was seated in a stall just behind me. There were 600 people in attendance, and the many members of St. Paul’s who came were given choice seats. The hospitality extended by the Cathedral to the Perry family and to all of us from St. Paul's was remarkable and much appreciated.

I gave the second reading, which was from Charles’ book The Resurrection Promise. The passage was selected by Charles to be read at his funeral, and it represents his testimony about his life of faith and being a disciple of Jesus.

The homily was given by The Very Rev. Sam Lloyd III, the dean of the National Cathedral. Dean Lloyd paid homage to Charles’ tenacity in finishing the construction of the National Cathedral, rescuing the project at a time when it faced bankruptcy. Dean Lloyd underlined that it was fitting and right that the Cathedral took time to honor one of its greats.

For a few minutes I felt I was part of the Cathedral, that I belonged in this amazing space. And then it occurred to me that is precisely how I should feel; that the National Cathedral is the national house of prayer; that all of us are a part of this epic sacred place, not just presidents, dignitaries and bishops, but all of us. It is our house of prayer. And that is fun! And that is how Charles hoped all of us would feel about the cathedral that he played such a huge role in building.

In his book, Charles wrote about how faith is both intellectual and emotional and the two go together (p. 110):

“It is emotional, soaring high as the cathedral vaulting, sometimes not. It is fun—yes fun! In a rather grim age, the stance of faith involves surprise and folly and enthusiasm—the real kind—brought about by his presence in us. And that is fun!”

When we finished with Evensong, we were led down a stone stairwell to the crypt beneath the high altar to Charles’ niche. His ashes were placed inside, and Dean Lloyd blessed the niche and ashes with holy water, and said several prayers. It was very solemn, very moving, and a very fitting goodbye to Charles. One of the final prayers was this:

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother Charles, and we commit his robust vessel to this place beneath the great stone tree builded here; her fluted columns, rooted deep in nourishing soil; her vaulted branches and tracery; her light and song, reaching to praise your great glory.

The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious to him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen.

Update on memorial service for Charles Perry

In the last couple of days, there has been an outpouring of love and grief for our own Charles Perry, who died suddenly on Saturday evening. Let me update you on a few things:

We will hold a service for Charles at St. Paul's Memorial Church on Sunday Oct. 31 at 3 pm. Bishop Shannon Johnston will preside and I will be preaching. Charles' interment will be at a later date at the Washington National Cathedral.

The Very Rev. Dr. Sam Lloyd, the Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, wrote a letter to the Cathedral community about Charles, which you can read by clicking HERE.

The National Cathedral also has a wonderful on-line photo gallery of pictures of Charles, which you can see by clicking HERE (and I've reposted a few on this page). The bottom photo shows Charles, left, standing with Peter Lee, right, who was the Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia.

I am reminded in looking at the photos of Charles' great strength of character. He not only put the last stones into the National Cathedral, he was a stone. In his letter, Dean Lloyd said this about Charles:

As provost, Perry was responsible to the bishop for all of the Cathedral’s operations, including worship, programs, and finances. When he was appointed, the Cathedral was $10.5 million in debt, and construction had been halted. Provost Perry oversaw both the successful campaign to eradicate the debt and the subsequent effort to raise the funds to finish the construction of the Cathedral in 1990.

In a 2001 interview, Provost Perry named two things he considered his most important legacy at the Cathedral. The first is no surprise. He was widely honored for having led the Cathedral through a major financial crisis, and also for his intrepid leading of the construction of the Cathedral to its completion. But he also cited his passionate commitment to the Cathedral’s programs.

“I think the Cathedral has a profound ministry of teaching, which is what your programmatic ministry is—doing things that other people are not doing. I want to be remembered as a teacher,” Perry said. “That, to me, is something I’m very proud of.”

We at the Cathedral give thanks to God for the resolute leadership and devoted service of Charles Perry, one of the Cathedral’s giants. May light perpetual shine upon him.

All of us at St. Paul's extend our condolences and sympathy to Joy Perry and her family, and to all whose lives were deeply touched by Charles. We miss him greatly even as we know he is still very close to us just across the horizon where we cannot see.