THE FUNERAL took place on June 1 of Hugh Lee, a Canon of the Episcopal Diocese of Argyll and The Isles and former Rector of Holy Trinity Church, where he continued to minister until very recently.
He had been Synod Clerk of the diocese, and was made an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral of The Isles on his retirement.
He leaves a widow, Christiane, as well as three children and several grandchildren.
These bald words convey little of the respect and love in which Hugh was held both in Dunoon and in the wider church.
He will be remembered for his calm wisdom, his quirky sense of humour – and for the energy with which, in the early days of his ministry here, he revealed Holy Trinity to the wider world by cutting down several large sycamore trees that had previously concealed the building from shipping on the Clyde.
He was a keen sailor, and frequently sailed his boat across to Bute to take the afternoon service in St Paul’S Rothesay, where he was also Rector.
Another feature of Hugh’s ministry was the presence of his cats, who were known to attend services if the door was left unguarded.
Hugh loved music and was responsible for introducing the Russian choir Voskresenije to Dunoon – though he never did manage to pronounce any of the Russian names! The Russian musicians remember with fondness how he welcomed them into his house, exemplifying the hospitality that was an integral part of his faith.
Holy Trinity had to deploy additional chairs at his packed funeral service, which featured music that he had particularly loved as well as the pipes which he had played in his youth.
Bishop Kevin preached, and he and Dean Andrew draped Hugh’s cope over the coffin as it lay before the altar.
As the Nunc Dimittis was said, Hugh’s friend John McIntosh the organist played the Iona Boat Song, before the pipes played the coffin out to Highland Cathedral.
Hugh’s passing leaves a huge gap in the life of Holy Trinity. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Printed Friday 9 June 2017
