John McIntyre (“Mac”) trained at Ridley College in Melbourne, graduating at 24. He gained a Bachelor of Divinity before starting parish ministry at Dandenong and Thomastown. John was then at Ridley lecturing from 1983-90 when he was appointed Rector of St Saviour’s in Redfern (his last two years at Ridley included being the Priest-in-Charge of Port Melbourne). In 2006 John was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Gippsland in rural Victoria.
The funeral service for John was held at St Saviour’s on June 17, with Archbishop Glenn Davies presiding. Uncle Max Eulo performed a traditional Smoking Ceremony and Acknowledgement of Country was given by Pastor Ray Minniecon. The liturgy was led by the Rev. Rich Lanham, with moving eulogy by the Rev. Laurie McIntyre (John’s uncle), sermon by the Rev. Bill Lawton, and tributes from Vicar General Phil Muston, Pastor Ray Minniecon, the Rev. Dr Keith Mascord, and McIntyre family members, Jan (John’s wife) and their three children, Jessica, Paul and Lisa. John’s parents, Ken and Vicky, were also in attendance.
Patrick Russell, former Executive Officer of The Factory Community Centre, worked closely with John in Redfern and Waterloo. Patrick remembers an activist and advocate who spoke up for the disadvantaged. “I was standing (for two-and-a-half hours!) near a row of bishops, some of whom I know were not members of John’s fan club yet may have respected him,” Patrick said, following the funeral service.
Noting the references throughout the service to John’s love of Irish culture, Patrick said: “Perhaps it’s what most defines him, his Irishness. The event honoured this, in music and poetry. I quite liked Bill Lawton’s view of John as an ‘artist’, referring to songs that John had written.”
“Though everyone who liked John thought of him as a friend (and that includes me, of course), his funeral made you realise that you only knew part of him.”
Naomi Ward was for many years a teacher at Poets Corner Preschool. She remembers: “John was actively involved at Poets Corner Preschool. He was genuinely interested and concerned. He made himself aware of the needs and struggles of the preschool as well as the families attending. He was approachable and warm with a great sense of humour, visiting regularly and giving support, friendship and encouragement. He attended special family events. He was able to connect and relate well with the staff, parents and children. He was highly respected and valued by the community at large.
“John was a man who sought and stood up for truth in a heartfelt, strong and reflective way as he journeyed with Christ through his understanding of the Gospels. He was a true friend and advocate, a voice for the marginalised and oppressed demonstrating compassion, humility, insight, and love.”
The following remembrances are from parishioners of St Saviour’s.
“He went to give a little prayer with one of our public tenants up at [the tenant’s] place and as he walked in an altar chair was sitting there! Or when one of the church pews went missing and Rev. John saw it at the second-hand dealer’s and asked, ‘Isn’t that from St Saviours?’ ‘Oh no, a good friend of mine gave it to me.’ John would then say, ‘They must have needed it more’ and let it go.”
“He came to our house as we had a couple of boys who were in a bit of trouble there and the police were coming to raid and I said, ‘John, you’d better get out of here or they’ll take you along with them’. He said it was no different to when Jan got arrested by the police one day when they first arrived here. I said, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘They thought she was one of the drug dealers. It didn’t matter that she said, ‘I’m married to the minister in there’. They said, ‘No, we’re taking you up to the station.’ So he had to go up to the station to get her.”
“And he was Chaplain to the Sydney Swans! He was such a normal man.”
“Look at all the homeless kids and the street kids he gave direction to.”
