Lis Burch
Our Friend is Heard.
Our Friend Deborah Filgate worshipped in Oxford Meeting for many years, until failing strength prevented her from attending. I had the pleasure, fun and occasional challenge of knowing her since I arrived in Oxford in the autumn of 1982, and later held a Power of Attorney (with Jon Brown) for her. Jon and I are now serving as her Executors. In that capacity I helped to clear her flat at Woodstock Close, and found a number of papers that might be of interest.
Her notes include the following excerpts from a talk she gave on her spiritual journey:
By 12 lived in 5 countries and spoke 3 languages. Parents agnostic but not anti-religion. Exposed to Catholicism and Judaism in Belgium. At an early age observed overt anti-semitism, some quite brutal. Aged 7-8 asked to go to Catholic church – thought God lived in a box on the altar. Schools in Geneva, Mexico, international school, convent school, episcopal school in US – v. unhappy. Then George School – total immersion in Quaker community, tolerant and friendly, felt valued. Quakerism in action within school and wider community. Applied for membership at 17.
Meetings attended: Toronto, v. small; Sydney; Stamford, Conn; Melbourne – long distance so 1 a month; Clinton, Conn, 6 people; Newtown, PA; then Oxford.
‘Counselled COs protesting the draft. Realised spiritual and temporal life are one – they don’t overlap, they mesh. In US during whole of 1960s, Vietnam and Civil Rights, involved in both. Suffered ‘burn out’, came to UK.
‘For years wrestled with belief until I realised the answer lies in meeting for worship and what I experience in a gathered meeting. So it’s experience not belief which lies at the crux of Quakerism.’
Among Deborah’s papers are the texts of a number of other talks:
- Introduction to Quaker Faith and Practice to an Enquirers’ Evening in 2007, plus others on the same topic given in 2004 and 2005, plus an undated text – 2006, perhaps?
- A letter in 2001 from Mahalla Mason thanking Deborah for her ‘excellent recent talk’ on ’Some problems connected with Asylum Applications‘ at the Oxford Quaker Centre, and the text of the talk.
- A series of short texts (I am not sure of the author) headed ‘some thoughts on Meeting for Worship’, including The meeting gathers; Listening to ministry; Right worship; Meeting and life; Prayer; Punctuality; Sacramental; Meetings for business.
They are all thoughtful, considered, well-grounded and indicative of her weight in spiritual terms. But she didn’t lose her commitment to activism. Among other papers I found a faxed letter dated 18/03/03 which reads:
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AAI believe you are making a terrible mistake. War is not the answer.
Deborah Filgate
Deborah died in May 2020 but because of COVID restrictions had only a small funeral.
A memorial meeting will be held
to give thanks for the grace of God
in the life and service of Deborah Filgate
on Saturday 7 August in the Meeting House
at 14:00, followed by refreshments.
The meeting can also be followed by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87383304611?pwd=Vkkya2ZweVVRZjRmOE1JVDBFdTdwUT09
(this is the usual Meeting for Worship link).
I do hope OSAM Friends will be able to support Deborah’s memorial meeting.
| Next Article |
Back to August 2021 Newsletter Main Page
Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 508 • August 2021
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW