Br Raphael Aspinwall RIP
Fr Brendan Thomas • December 27, 2020
A short obituary has been added to this page for Br Raphael, who died earlier this year.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Dom Raphael who died on 7th April 2020, just short of his 89th birthday.
John James Aspinwall was born near Preston on 4th December 1931, the son of Joseph and Margaret Aspinwall. His elder brother Gerard was a Salesian priest, so John was sent to school with the Salesians at Shrigley Park, near Macclesfield. He then studied at Trinity College, Dublin, obtaining an M.A. In English Literature, a B. Mus. and a Dip. Ed. He also studied for an A.T.C.L. at Trinity College, London. In addition he took his City and Guilds in Furniture Studies. Highly professional in all that he did, John was a brilliant pianist and composer and a sophisticated furniture maker and designer. He taught English and Music first at Shrigley Park and then at Prior Park, near Bath, a city which he loved and where he made his home. He also taught music at Stonor School. From 1980 onwards he was self-employed in the world of quality furniture and antiques.
He came from an old Lancashire Catholic family and was deeply religious, but in a very personal and idiosyncratic way. He was attracted to the Benedictine way of life and tried his vocation at Quarr. Perhaps the life there was too austere, so in 1994, at the age of 63, he came to Belmont and was clothed in the habit on 20th March 1995 and given the name Raphael. He soon found himself at home here and made his Solemn Profession on 15th March 2000. He was Sacristan from 1996 to 2000, Guestmaster from 1999 to 2001, Librarian from 2000 to 2005, Refectorian from 2003 to 2019, Organist from his arrival at Belmont until his death and, for many years, he served the Community as Secretary of Chapter with the most exquisite good humour. As Refectorian he showed particular care of the brethren, making sure they never lacked for anything they might need. He designed the organ screen for the organ extension in the North Transept. He composed several pieces of music for Hereford Cathedral including a poem by Thomas Treherne. Although softly spoken, he had a wicked sense of humour and could see the funny side to most situations. He was a delight to be with, a man of great learning and knowledge and an astute judge of character. He did not study Theology formally, but read a great deal and although he was at heart quietly traditional, he was not afraid to venture out and read the works of rather more unorthodox theologians. He had a good collection of interesting theology books, which are now in the monastery library.
He remained active and youthful to the very end of his life and never looked his age. With Raphael you never felt that you were in the company of an old man. Unfortunately, he contracted Covid-19 locally and died in Hereford Hospital on 7th April 2020. Sadly, we were not allowed to visit him and he was not allowed to return to Belmont to die among his brethren, something he dearly longed for. This experience was very painful for his family as well as for the community. Even his burial had to be held in private. A man who did not like fuss, perhaps he would have preferred it that way. May he delight the angels and the saints in heaven.
A private graveside burial was held on Tuesday 14th April. Sadly only members of the community could be present, following the social distancing restrictions laid down by the government. We hope to have a Requiem Mass for him in the autumn so that friends, family, and parishioners can come together.
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