A DISTINGUISHED military chaplain and former Risca vicar has been remembered as a “family man” and “committed and caring priest”.
Tributes have been paid to The Venerable John Blackburn, who died at the Grange University Hospital on October 1, aged 73.
He is survived by his wife Anne, who he married in 1970 at Liverpool Parish Church (Our Lady and St Nicholas), their two children Emma and Charlotte, and his grandson Spencer.
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The Ven. Blackburn was born in Newport on December 3, 1947, and grew up in Caerleon, before becoming the first of his family to go to university, studying theology at St Michael’s Llandaff.
He was ordained by the Church in Wales in 1971, before becoming a priest in 1972, and served his curacy in the parish of St Mary’s, Risca, until 1976.
In 1973, he had become a part-time chaplain in the British Army, and joined full-time in 1976.
Before his retirement in 2004, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition of his service.
After retiring from the British Army, he returned as vicar of the parish of Risca until his retirement in 2013.
Following a deterioration in his health in September, he was admitted to the Grange, and, despite the best efforts of the medical team, he died on Friday, October 1 at 6.15pm.
William Lister, The Ven. Blackburn’s former colleague and friend, described him as “a distinguished former Chaplain-General to Her Majesty’s Land Forces and Queen’s Honorary Chaplain, whose challenging vision and gritty determination transformed chaplaincy in the British Army.”
“He quickly discovered that the Army was his calling and was given a regular commission in 1981,” he said.
“He was promoted to Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class in 1982 and in the following years served in Colchester, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, Germany and Catterick.
“On promotion to 1st Class in 1995, he was appointed to perhaps his most cherished post as Assistant Chaplain-General West and Wales (a few months later, renamed the 5th Division) based in Shrewsbury. The 2nd Division followed in 1997, at that time based in York.
“Wherever Blackburn was to be found there was much laughter. His sense of humour was wicked at times and remains legendary amongst those who knew him.
“He was a person of great charm and care, especially with new chaplains who might be daunted by the demands of ministry in a secular organisation.
“At all times fearless, as his responsibilities grew, he relished giving pastoral support to those in personal or professional difficulty.
“As someone who was a shrewd judge of character, it also meant that later in his career he was prepared to defend and even promote those who might otherwise appear to be ‘lost causes’ or not strictly within the norms of convention.
“Perhaps his greatest achievement as Chaplain-General was ‘convergence’ of the department.
"This was a concept first suggested 80 years before him in the Creedy Report of 1921, which sought to bring all church denominations together under one administrative authority.
"The Catholic Church resisted this at the time and when amended and finally implemented, it meant that the department was split in two in both administrative and spiritual terms.
“Always practical, Blackburn realised that the British Army would not put up with duplication in the chain of command for long and whether chaplains at the time agreed with him or not, Blackburn judged it far better to bring together the department and the sending churches, in order to find their own solution, rather than have one imposed upon them.
“Always a committed and caring priest, on retirement from the British Army he became the vicar of the parish of Risca where his ministry had begun decades earlier.
"He remained there until his retirement in 2013, and was subsequently granted permission to officiate in the Diocese of Monmouth, whilst still based in the family home in Risca.
“It was here that he had time to enjoy his passion for travel and also his varied charitable work, most recently as a trustee of the League of Mercy.”
READ MORE: Vicar leads campaign to save Risca cinema.
The Ven. Blackburn’s family said they are extremely grateful to all those who have shown their support and offered their condolences.
His funeral will be conducted by The Venerable Jonathan Williams, Archdeacon of Newport, at the Cathedral Church of St Woolos in Newport on Friday, October 22.
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