This eulogy focuses on Ian Hartley Campbell's life centered around his deep Christian faith. It describes him as having unquestioning faith, hope, and love, which were the core traits that underpinned his courageous, gentle, loyal, and caring nature. He was steeped in the Anglican faith from a young age and stuck firmly to his beliefs throughout his life. He had a loving relationship with his wife and partnered with her to create an unwavering marriage. They raised their family with a focus on spiritual leadership and actively engaged their children in their faith. Campbell felt called to witness his faith in the workplace and closely examined the complex issue of morality in warfare. He wished for his family to have uncomprom

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In the giving of a eulogy, there is always the temptation to give a dispassionate
chronology of the departed’s life. Although this would be interesting, I do not
think it is appropriate for my father and in the next few moments, I would like to
share with you some memories, which directly relate to the essence of him.
There are many words that can be used to describe my father, such as
courageous, gentle, loyal, caring, action orientated, good sense of humour and a
family man. However the three traits, which underlie all of these are faith, hope
and love and at the very core a Christ centred person. My father’s unquestioning
faith is exemplified in his selection for the new testament lesson and taking a
verse from this: “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But
just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
My father was first called to act as a server in the Church of England, while still
at school in Bedfordshire and soon became steeped in the traditional and Catholic
Christian faith, which has been his cornerstone throughout his life. My father’s
traditional stance on the Anglican faith is well known and although painful at
times, he stuck to his beliefs; but most importantly felt no animosity, but rather
embraced those who did not share his views.
Mum met Dad at an Anglican Fellowship social, whilst both were at Manchester
University and here started the beginning of a loving and unselfish relationship,
which indeed is a witness to us all. I would like to develop on this theme a little
more. Mum gave up any professional ambitions and worked with my father to
create an unwavering husband-wife partnership. For example, mum always took to
running the thrift shop, sitting on many social committees and importantly
providing her professional counselling skills to servicemen and their spouses,
whilst my father progressed through the Royal Air Force. This career culminated
in my father being appointed station commander at Staxton Wold and North
Luffenham. It is a rare feat for an air force officer to have commanded two
stations.
In fact, my wife and I were extremely fortunate to be married in Rutland and
have our wedding reception at RAF North Luffenham’s Officers Mess. My

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mother was truly splendid in terms of organising everything to the last detail;
Jonathan, was the greatest ‘best man,’ any brother could wish for and my father
provided the spiritual guidance and designed the wedding blessing ceremony. I
still clearly recall the passion which my father read the well-known 1 Corinthians
13 lesson and taking the concluding verse from this reading: “And now these three
remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” These traits he
carefully instructed us on and most certainly lived his life by them.
An earlier illustration of family life was when the family, led by Dad, provided
spiritual leadership to small churches in Wiltshire. My father would lead the
service, mum would be playing the organ and Jonathan and I would be alternately
pumping the organ and reading lessons.
Dad started running family services, whilst living in Chigwell and I have fond
memories of my father preaching in the aisle, actively engaging with the children
and making our faith come alive.
At many times during my father’s highly successful career in the Air Force and
latterly the British Standards Institute, people asked whether he would consider
becoming a priest. In reply, he mentioned that he felt called to be a witness in
the work-place. Indeed, there were many practical aspects to this, but also the
lesser known more thoughtful side. An example of this was his thesis entitled
“Just Wars?” which was completed for the Archbishop’s Diploma for Readers in
1994. This dealt with the very complex issue of the morality of warfare and
specifically the guidance available to a Christian in the armed forces.
Jonathan and I remember the trepidation, which we felt, when Dad came to
preach on this very subject at Framlingham College, where we were both boarders
and strictly warned him that once the benches started ‘creaking,’ (as the boys got
bored) he must quickly conclude. Thankfully, this never happened and the largely
school boy congregation were treated to another wise and thought-provoking
sermon.
Going to Framlingham sparked-off our long association with Felixstowe. I
remember sitting in Cordy’s Restaurant after viewing three flats, at the tender

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age of nine, where my mum and dad were seeking to elicit a democratic response
to where we should live. Thankfully, we all chose the same flat.
The family joined St.John’s at the same time as arriving in Felixstowe and,
although never ‘permanently’ resident in Felixstowe until fairly recently, my
father became an active member of St.John’s. First, as a Lay Minister, under
Canon Tidy and Kenneth Francis and then as a curate under Canon Lowe. In fact,
Dad was ordained deacon by Bishop Frank at St.John’s and this was followed by
his ordination as a priest, by Bishop Richard, in Bury St.Edmund’s Cathedral just
last year.
I feel both honoured and privileged that I was able to assist my father at some
of the Eucharists, both here and at St.Edmund’s over the past year. These have
been very special father-son moments, which first started one hot day at the
Cathedral of St.Cyprian’s in Kimberley, South Africa, where I was licensed as a
Lay Minister and where my father was invited to preach by Canon Marcus. My
father has always been a role-model to me and whenever difficult decisions had
to be made, he was always at the end of the telephone sharing his wisdom and
imparting his love. This love-in-action was always evident: I felt loved and have
never felt any different.
My father was never complacent: just two weeks ago, when I should have been
ministering to him, my father was sharing with me his wisdom on parish finances
and developing internet web sites for parishes. He always insisted on still getting
dressed every morning, even at the height of his illness. Whilst here in July, my
father was in the Chest Department of the Ipswich Hospital. A young and
relatively fit young man had recently lost a dear friend and although my father
could barely walk or breathe he provided this young man with great hope.
Faith, hope and love were at the very essence of my father and what would my
father wish for us at this moment as we move on, without his physical presence to
guide us? My father’s choice of lesson from Isaiah, chapter 40, I think captures
his wish: “… but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will
soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not
be faint.” We must galvanise ourselves to develop an uncompromising love and

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faith in God, not only on Sunday’s, but each and every day. We must truly and
enthusiastically become Christ’s ambassadors in this world. I’m sure this would be
my father’s wish.
Let us bow our heads in prayer:
Eternal God, you called your servant Ian to proclaim your glory in a life of priestly
prayer and pastoral zeal. Keep the leaders of your church faithful to you and
bless your people through their ministry; through Jesus Christ our Lord and
Saviour. Amen.