A Great Loss!

Tony Barrand died yesterday morning. His daughter said that he died peacefully with his family around him. What an incredible loss! Margaret Dale is still living, but with an unclear prognosis. We are not sure if she is aware of Tony's death. She is also in Hospice care. They were an incredibly important part of the Guilford Church's life, especially in its musical life, but not just there. E.g., Margaret Dale initiated and led the annual Seder supper on Maundy Thursday. She made it possible for Tony to keep coming to church in his wheelchair as the MS robbed him of more and more functions (Tony was diagnosed with MS in 1986!). And he was so determined. What an inspiration! Pastor Elisa struck just the right note this morning - it was originally planned to be "holy humor"Sunday, with a lot of jokes. It was shifted to a celebration of joy and sorrow. Part of the service was an archival video of Tony singing the carol Candlemas Eve, which was a tradition in our church. Candlemas (February 2nd) is a holy day observed in England and many other countries of the world, that Tony brought into our church. It is the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, the 40th day after Christmas, a day when candles are blessed for the year; when Christmas decorations are taken down and replaced with boxwood. etc. Tony has sung this carol for years- decades, actually - going back to the late 1980s.

The Candlemas Eve carol that Tony always sang on the Sunday before Feb. 2nd.

Tony Barrand (1945-2022)