Former Secretary for Health Care Chaplaincy (2005 to 2019) Rev Debbie Hodge writes:
Edith was a friend and colleague during my time working at CTE and Free Churches Group (FCG).
She was part of the finance team and used her organisational and communications skills in keeping the books, and the people, in order.
Edith was always happy to help out and as the organisations changed, so did her role. For a few years, she worked as part of the Healthcare chaplaincy team, the FCG Women’s Group and the Violence Against Women committee. It was within those groups that her caring nature, faith and lived spirituality shone through.
The FCG Women’s Group held a retreat, which was in self-catering accommodation – Edith rolled up her sleeves and helped organise not only the programme but the menus, food shopping and preparation. The inspiration for that event was Sue Monk Kidd’s book The Secret Life of Bees, about finding new ways of living in America as the civil rights movement took shape. At the retreat the following prayer, chosen by Edith, was shared every evening –
Dear Lord,
You are the Way, helps us to find new ways of Walking
You are the Truth, helps us to find new ways of Talking
You are the life, help us to find new ways of Living
You are love, help us to find new ways of Loving. Amen (Michael Reiss from Courage to Love)
Former Principal Officer for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Multi-cultural Relations, Rev Dr Joe Aldred adds: “Edith was an excellent administrator, with an eye for detail, a starter-finisher, and had a rarefied sense of humour. May she rest in peace.”
Photo L to R: Edith Steele, Anne van Staveren CTBI Press Officer, Rev Debbie Hodge.
Edith’s funeral will be on Friday 9 June at 12 noon at All Saints Church Harrow Weald HA3 6DQ. You can watch the live stream on the All Saints Harrow Weald Facebook page or via their YouTube channel.