A Service of Celebration
for the life of
Eleanor Brennan
10th September, 1986 – 17th November, 2007
Friday 14 December 2007
at
Church of St. Mary’s, Painswick
Gloucestershire
Order of Service
Greeting & Gathering Prayer
Reverend John Longuet-Higgins, St. Mary’s, Painswick
Hymn:
Lord of all Hopefulness
Words: Jan Struther
Music:
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the
lathe,
Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Collect
“Do not stand at my grave and weep”
attributed to Mary Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Read by David & Jackie Green
A memory
Stephen & Deborah Lee
‘Song for Eleanor’
Written & composed by James Brennan, her uncle, on the
occasion of her birth. Performed and recorded by St. Anne’sBelfield School students, Charlottesville, Virginia
A memory
Becca Dobson
i carry your heart with me’ by ee cummings
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear
no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Read by Erica van Manen and Phillippa Candy
Reflection on Eleanor by:
Andrew Brennan
Hymn:
All things Bright and Beautiful
Words: C.F. Alexander
Tune: Royal Oak trad.
Refrain: All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colors,
he made their tiny wings.
Refrain
Eleanor Mary Durman Brennan
Eleanor was born September 10, 1986 in the County of Surrey, England
to Christine and Andrew, their beloved first born daughter, and first
grand child of Dorothy & the late John Durman and Sally and Michael
Brennan.
She lived in Wimbledon, London for her early years and was schooled
at St. Andrew’s Montessori and the Ursuline Convent. She moved with
her family to Albemarle County in the fall of 1997 where she happily
attended St. Anne’s-Belfield through ninth grade. She also joined
Mountain Skyline Pony Club which guided and consolidated her
passion for horses and
riding. Through her final high school years she attended Tandem
Friends School which she loved.
The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky.
Refrain
The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden,
he made them every one.
Refrain
Before leaving school she was already riding professionally as an event
rider and relocated to England with her horse, Bailey Zwei. She spent
the next three years competing at the highest level in her sport and
working for and with many gifted coaches including those from the
US, British and Australian Olympic teams. She was able to spend time
with her loving grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and godparents
and develop many new friendships.
In July 2007, she decided to return to her family and friends in Virginia
bringing with her two event horses and her Jack Russell terrier, Zipper.
She was busy setting up her training
and teaching business out of Albemarle’s Plain Dealing Farm where
she had first been taught at world class level.
____________________________________________________
He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well.
Refrain
Reading:
Romans Chapter 8, verses 18, 28, 35 & 37-39
Lector: Charles Masefield
The flowers on the altar are given with love by Charles, Jenny and George
Masefield to celebrate the beautiful life of Eleanor Brennan.
The Brennan family extends an invitation to everyone to join them in the
Church Rooms, after the service, for a reception where there will be an
opportunity to share your memories of Eleanor.
Donations given in Eleanor’s memory will be held pending the founding by
Andrew and Christine Brennan of a Riding Scholarship to honour her name.
Cheques can be made out to St. Anne’s Parish with a memoranda note “Eleanor
Brennan” and sent to The Treasurer, St. Anne’s Parish, PO Box 337, Scottsville
VA 24590, U.S.A.
Updates about the scholarship
www.eleanorbrennaneventing.com
will
appear
on
the
website:
Address:
Reverend Andrew Wakefield
St. Andrew’s Church, Wimbledon
Anthem:
Ave Verum Corpus
Painswick Church Choir
Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name:
Thy kingdom come:
Thy will be done;
In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn:
The King of Love my Shepherd is
Words:
Music:
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
‘She walks in beauty’ by Lord Byron
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
Read by Jenny Masefield
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
Final Prayers and Blessing