Tangmere's Rev Beryl was a true trailblazer

The Rev Beryl Rundle pictured when her daughter was ordained a priest

Beryl was at the forefront of the move towards the Church of England ordaining women priests in the 1990s, her son Richard explained this week.

He added: “She was one of a number of women who served as Deacons before women were permitted to be ordained as priests. She was ordained herself as a Deacon on May 14, 1987.

Her ministry had initial started as a Lay reader at St Peter’s Church, Selsey. Upon ordination she served the parishes of St Andrew’s, Tangmere, and St Mary & St Blaise, Boxgrove.

In 1992 she moved to St Saviour’s, Eastbourne, to complete her formal ministry before retirement. She remained active in the church and became an Oblate of the order of the Sisters of Bethany convent in Southsea.”

The Rev Beryl died at Queen Alexander Hospital, Portsmouth, on Friday, February 5, after a short period of illness. She leaves three children, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Her son, Richard, from Pagham, said that with her fellow Deacons they started to change attitudes about the role of women in the church. She was proud to see her own daughter Katherine Ward ordained a priest in Chingford in September.

A requiem Mass for Beryl will be conducted by the Rev Canon Bob White at St Mary’s Church, Portsea, tomorrow on Friday March 12. Beryl will be laid to rest with her husband, Howard, at the churchyard at St Wilfrid’s Chapel, Church Norton, Selsey.