Thanksgiving for the life of Wendy Moynagh (1916-2007)

held at Christ Church Bromley, 29th. August 2007  

The service was attended by a large gathering of family and friends and led by the Vicar, the Reverend Iain Broomfield with readings by David Moynagh (Wendy’s eldest son), grandson Jonathan Hindley and grand-daughter Jacqui Besley.  Prayers were led by Richard and Lynda Doré and based on Psalm 23. The readings and hymns had all been planned  and chosen by Wendy herself.

The spectrum of those in the congregation reflected the work which Wendy and Ken did in Africa in Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi and also many who had benefited from their concern for the children of missionaries, who remained in England for schooling – a work they undertook particularly when they returned to England on home leave and after their resignation from the Mission.  Among former CMS mission partners and members present were Rachel Williamson (Wendy’s daughter),  Miss Joan Hall, Dr Jon Henderson, Canon Anthony Hindley, Canon Ian & Mrs Felicity Leakey, Dr Bert Osborn and Mrs Marie Read and Mrs Beryl Sisley.  There were also many others who had lived or worked in Africa .

In his address  Iain Broomfield reminded the congregation that they had come together to do three things, to give thanks to God for Wendy’s life, to say farewell to Wendy herself, which was much harder, and to ask the question, “How can we be sure of  being with God for eternity?”

Wendy had lived life through some of the most important events of the twentieth century being born in the First World War and going out to Africa in 1947, soon after the Second World War, with her doctor husband Kenneth whom she had married at Christ Church Beckenham.  In Africa,  they both learned the lessons of  the Revival which started in Uganda and Ruanda-Urundi in the late nineteen thirties and forties.  Wendy loved her Bible and had a clear idea of what the Lord wanted her to do each day.  When recently a family member had invited her to go on the London Eye not knowing, as Wendy later confessed to her vicar, that she had a fear of heights.  “But the Lord has given me a verse” she said,  “so I know it will be all right”!  And it was! She enjoyed the experience and shared  it all, and how God helped her, with the taxi driver on the way home.  When on another occasion the vicar told her that he thought she had a God-given gift of wisdom, Wendy’s surprised reply was, “Do you really think so?” 

Turning to the third reason for being together in church, we were  told that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship - a relationship with God Himself through Christ.  Taking words from the second reading in Hebrews 10, Iain Broomfield said that our response to God welcoming us into relationship with Him should be that of faith, hope and love (Hebrews 10:22-24). Wendy had great faith in Christ, a sure hope of her eternal rest with God and a real love for God and for other Christians. Even in her declining strength and health she and her sister, Gwen, would make the effort each week to walk to church in order “not to give up meeting together” (v.25). They did it not just because it was good for them to worship God but also because it was good for others to see them there, appreciating their fellowship and ministering to them as the Lord gave them opportunity. For Wendy her faith was a relationship of love with Jesus and we have the same opportunity today to enter into that same relationship with Christ.

After singing “We rest on Thee our shield and our defender” and the blessing the congregation moved into the hall next door for magnificent “light” refreshments prepared lovingly by the congregation at Christ Church.

Let us praise God for the lives of Wendy and Ken and for all the blessings that he has given us through them.  

                                                            Keith Anderson and Marie Read

A little bit more of the Moynaghs’ life story

Ken and Wendy spent a few months in 1947 at Maseno Hospital in Kenya .  Then in November 1947 they went to Shyira (* Rwanda ) until 1949.  From 1949 to 1952 they were at Kigeme (* Rwanda ), and after home leave they returned to Africa in March 1953, spending four years at Matana  (* Burundi ).  After home leave, they returned to Gahini in 1958 for a brief time and then went back to Matana until 1962.   Ken returned to Matana in 1963 for a brief spell, before returning home in 1964 to work as physician to the students at Bart’s Hospital.     Ken and Wendy both played an important part on the Council of the Ruanda Mission CMS when they came home.  Ken Died in 1972.

* At this time (before 1962), both Rwanda and Burundi were part of Ruanda-Urundi .

An Appreciation by a colleague, Dr Harold Adeney

As, because of age and lack of transport, I am unable to be at dear Wendy's funeral on Wednesday, I thought I should use this means of writing to express my thanks to God for a very lovely servant of his who has been a very special friend of my family and myself ever since Ken and Wendy were our fellow missionaries in Burundi.  She radiated the love of Jesus, always thoughtful and caring for the needs of others, and was such a gracious wife and helpmete to her dear Ken until the Lord called him home.  I have not been able to see her many times recently, but each time it has been a time of special fellowship together as we have shared testimony of the Lord's grace to us in our many failings, and unfailing love and help in our walk with him. 

Glory be to Jesus for this radiant servant of his, now  with her dear Ken in the place he has prepared for them.