He had the courage to take risks to create spaces for dialogue
A Church of Ireland minister who met the IRA’s army council in 1974 as part of a delegation of Irish clerics has died at his home in Canada.
The Very Rev Ralph Baxter died in his adopted home of Winnipeg on Friday. He was an Instonian and a former chorister of Belfast Cathedral.
The delegation met the IRA’s army council at Feakle, Co Clare, in 1974. The talks were followed by a series of short ceasefires.
The last surviving member of the eight-strong delegation, Very Rev Baxter told the BBC’s Spotlight On The Troubles series last year that he had Labour prime minister Harold Wilson’s “blessing” to speak to the republican leadership.
Rev Baxter attended the talks as a representative of the Irish Council of Churches.
Dr Nicola Brady of the Irish Council of Churches said: “As President of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC), I wish to express our condolences to the family of Rev Ralph Baxter.
“We, as a society, owe a great debt of gratitude to those who, like Rev Baxter, had the courage to take risks to create spaces for dialogue when the peace we enjoy today seemed unimaginable.
“As ICC we draw inspiration from his Gospel-centred vision for peace which inspired his leadership in the area of inter-church relations.”
Rev Baxter had served in Donaghcloney, Co Down, and Kilknasoolagh in Co Clare, as well as Orangefield in Belfast.
He later served as rector and later Dean at St John’s Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
A post on the cathedral’s website read: “Our beloved friend and brother, The Very Rev Ralph E Baxter, Dean Emeritus, died peacefully last night, at home.
“He served this Cathedral as rector and the Diocese as Dean from 1990 until his retirement in 1995.
“Please hold Eileen Baxter and their family in your prayers. May Dean Ralph rest in peace and rise with Christ in glory.”
RalphBaxter.jpg
