REVEREND JOHN COSSAR
1926 - 1996
John Cossar was born into a loving family in New Malden, Surrey in 1926, and was cherished all his life by his two sisters, Elizabeth and Jillian. In 1939 he gave his life to Christ. He joined the army in 1943, being commissioned into the Royal Scots Greys. He remembered with relish his tank-driving in West Sussex, which he was able to put into practice later in Germany.
After returning home, he trained in the City of London as an accountant, but the calling to the ordained ministry was burning within him and in 1953 he went to OakhillTheologicalCollege in North London. During his first long vacation he contracted polio, and the courage and determination which marked his later life rose to the surface at this time. Although he had to learn to walk all over again, he was back at college for the next term. He was enormously strengthened by Mary, whom he met whilst on a vacation job in Birmingham. They were married in 1956, shortly after his ordination. It proved a wonderful marriage. They moved to Rainham in Essex for John’s first curacy: He was recognised as a man who always showed great courtesy to all, regardless of status. A cleaner once remarked: “He makes you feel special”.
John’s second curacy was in Hastings. He was then asked to be Youth Chaplain for the Diocese, which he was to combine with parish duties at Madehurst. His enthusiasm for bringing the Gospel to young people ensured that he was a popular and effective chaplain. Who knows how many young hearts were touched, or how many parishioners received wise counsel and comfort from John’s ministry? He was a good listener and advice and encouragement were always offered with humility.
In 1981, he was asked to take on the additional parishes of Slindon and Eartham, He continued to be heavily involved in counselling, in numerous committees (in particular, he was Chaplain to the Girls’ Friendly Society), and he regularly participated in Healing services in Chichester Cathedral. John did a great deal to further ecumenical relations in the Benefice, forming a happy working partnership with successive priests at St Richard’s, especially Father David.
Above all, he loved his family and his parishes. He was immensely proud of Andrew and Rachel. He never looked happier than at Rachel’s wedding, greeting his friends and family in the sunlit Madehurst churchyard. His love for God left him deeply disappointed at the standards of modern morality, and in his sermons he strove to relate the Christian faith to contemporary attitudes. It was appropriate that his last project was to co-write the year’s ecumenical Lent course, which encouraged a great many to think about how they live out their faith in the 1990s.
Although polio weakened John’s body, it never weakened his spirit. His parishioners watched with admiration his determination to carry on with his task – in which he was greatly helped both by Mary, Jillian and Andrew who was still in the village. His faith carried him through much adversity, most recently in the face of Mary’s illness. He is now free from pain and in the presence of the Master whom he loved and served devotedly. We can give thanks for a great ambassador for Christ.