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Eddy Stride, 1923-2005

Obituary

A bishop once dubbed Eddy ‘Mr. Valiant-for-Truth’. Thousands knew him as ‘Mr. Ground-Level’ for his long-running column in the Church of England Newspaper from the 1960s, with working-class insights, then rare among conservative evangelicals.

He gained further fame as one of the ‘East-End Five’, East London clergy who opposed the Romanising trends of some 1970s liturgies.

Conversion

The 11th of 13 children, he first heard the gospel at the age of eight, but said he refused it. Six-and-a-half years later, at Christ Church Surbiton, he committed his life to Christ and thanked God daily for that church’s faithfulness in bringing him the Word of God. Leaving school at 14, he worked in a typewriter business until his father died; needing more money, at 16 he became a machine operator at 19s 6d a week. Being both articulate and trusted as a Christian, he was elected as shop steward and began a lifetime witness from a worker’s perspective.

While in North Africa with the RAF, he heard God’s call to ordination. With no exams behind him, he studied 1946-47 at the BCMS college in Bristol (Tyndale Hall), hoping to serve in Iran. When that door closed he worked as a hospital orderly, and after many faith-testing delays, was eventually ordained in 1951, next year marrying Irene, whom he had first met as a teenager. Together they served parishes in Croydon, West Thurrock, Dagenham and finally Christ Church, Spitalfields, for which he is best remembered.

In nearly 20 years there he came to appreciate the irony of a vast but neglected architectural masterpiece in a needy, multi-cultural and largely Asian neighbourhood. He continued the Crypt work, rehabilitating homeless alcoholics and had a major nationwide ministry in the 1971 ‘Festival of Light’ and its offshoots, including CareTrust. Content to be co-belligerent with Lord Longford, Bishop Trevor Huddlesdon, Malcolm Muggeridge and Mary Whitehouse, Eddy’s own gospel commitment never wavered as he championed biblical standards in public and private life, including the media.

He chaired the Church Society council and supported gospel work overseas, and was much moved by the East African revival. He could be a devastating debater, and skilful chairman of some volatile meetings. He was quick to apologise for words spoken in the heat of battle. He valued the Proclamation Trust, pioneered by his neighbour Dick Lucas; he read EN; his prayers were fervent, fresh and frequent.

Eddy and Irene’s rectory home welcomed all comers, including many damaged and vulnerable people. Following his funeral on September 15, a crowded thanksgiving service took place at Stamford, Lincs., to where he and Irene had retired in 1989, and a further commemoration is planned for November 12 at Christ Church, Spitalfields, at 2.00 pm.

Christopher Idle