Anglicans mourn loss of Dean Patrick McIntosh

Patrick McIntosh, the Dean of St George’s Cathedral, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, has died.

The Dean died suddenly on Tuesday afternoon, after falling ill at the Deanery at Victoria Park road. McIntosh, 68, was rushed to the nearby Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where he died shortly before 3 p.m.

According to reports, earlier that day, McIntosh had had meetings with church members from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and had been scheduled to meet with the newly elected parish church council at 5 p.m.

A release from Bishop of the Windward Islands C Leopold Friday said the Diocese is “truly saddened by his death.”

Dean McIntosh, a priest for the last 38 years, leaves behind a distinguished legacy of service to God and humanity. He was born on March 22, 1947 to James and Olive McIntosh, Bequia and was baptised and confirmed at the St Mary’s Anglican Church, Bequia. His primary education was at the Anglican Primary School, Port Elizabeth, Bequia. His secondary education was at the Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School, Bequia.

In 1974, Dean McIntosh entered Codrington College, Barbados, where he studied for the priesthood from 1974 to 1977. He then studied at the University of Birmingham, attaining his Master’s degree (sponsored by the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG) ) from 1996 to 1997.

Since his ordination McIntosh served the Diocese for 38 consecutive years. He was ordained at the St Paul’s Parish Church, Calliaqua, St Vincent and the Grenadines as a deacon on December 21, 1976 and as a priest on August 7, 1977 at the St George’s Cathedral, Kingstown.

He served in the following positions: Priest in Charge of the Parish of St James, Layou – August 1977 – June 1985; Rector of the Parish of the Holy Trinity, Georgetown – June 1985 – July 2002; Canon Cathedral Chapter, in the Stall of St Patrick – September 1997; Archdeacon of St Vincent and the Grenadines – October 1999 – July 2002; Rector Parish of St George and St Andrew and Dean of St George’s Cathedral July 2002 to January, 2016; Chaplain to Mothers’ Union and Anglican Church Women Association (ACWA) in the Archdeaconry of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Chaplain to the Anglican Youth Movement for several years; Chair, Governing Body, Bishops’ College, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines; Member of the Incorporate Trustees of the Anglican Church in St Vincent and the Grenadines; Diocesan Board of Finance and Diocesan Council; Diocesan Representative to Provincial Synod of the Church in the Province of the West Indies for several years; Member of the Commission on Ministry, Church in the Province of the West Indies for over 15 years.

A release from Bishop Friday said Dean McIntosh was a very faithful, dedicated and committed priest in the Diocese of the Windward Islands.

“He was always willing to go beyond the call of duty. While he was Rector of the Parish of the Holy Trinity, Georgetown, he paired up with the then Fr Leopold Friday, priest-in-charge of the Parish of St Matthew, Biabou, to carry out a Lay Training Programme for members of both parishes. In 1996, The Rt Rev’d Sehon Goodridge, Bishop of the Windward Islands, asked him to extend the programme to the Archdeaconry of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Fr Mc Intosh (at the time) was one of the main facilitators of the programme, in spite of the extensiveness of his ministry in the Parish of the Holy Trinity, Georgetown which extends from Mt Grenan to Fancy.

“Dean Mc Intosh will be remembered for the construction of the Holy Name Anglican Church, Sandy Bay, St Vincent and the Grenadines. It is one of the two churches in the Diocese which were built after 1960. One can also recall the restoration of the Holy Trinity Parish Church and rectory during his tenure as rector there, for over 17 years.

“There were several occasions when Dean Mc Intosh risked his life to serve the people in the Parish of the Holy Trinity. He would tell stories of crossing the Rabacca Dry River when it was flowing and just making it across in the nick of time or on occasions had to be assisted by others.

“Dean Mc Intosh had a great love for God and the Church; he saw himself as one called by God to mission and ministry, and executed his ministry with a deep passion. He had a love for people generally and particularly for the shut-ins, the aged, sick, poor and less fortunate and he introduced a monthly service for them at the St George’ s Cathedral several years ago,” the release from the Bishop said.

Just before his passing Dean McIntosh had been working assiduously towards the restoration of the St George’s Cathedral, which had recently been deemed unsafe for large gatherings.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT last week, McIntosh had said he asks God every day to help him to get the Cathedral restored before his retirement.

“I consider that to be my last commitment to the Church in the Diocese before retirement time. I really would like to see that accomplished,” he said then.

“It is better for us to work together and see it through, rather than to remove ourselves and nothing happens,” the Dean said in that interview which took place on December 28.

Left to mourn are his wife Carmel, children Camille and Patrick Jr and his son-in-law The Rev’d Fr Hanif Johnson, other relatives and friends.

SEARCHLIGHT extends sincere condolences to the widow, children, other relatives and friends of Dean McIntosh, as well as the entire Anglican Communion.

The funeral service of the late Very Reverend Patrick McIntosh CBE will be held on Friday, January 15, 2016 at 2:00 pm at the Church of Ascension, Sion Hill, Kingstown.