The Bishop of Southwark writes:
THE Revd Deepthi Wickremasinghe, who died, aged 57, on 2 April, from a short cancer-related illness, was ordained deacon in Southwark Cathedral in June 2019. She was serving her title at St Christopher’s, Walworth.
Her journey to ordination had been varied: she had had several occupations, including craft bookbinding. She was also an experienced journalist and copy editor working in the NGO sector, for the NHS, and with an international news agency. In her thirties, she had gained a degree in politics, philosophy, and history. She had worshipped as a lay person at St John the Evangelist, East Dulwich, for 30 years.
Most recently, she was a Research Fellow in the Department for Disease Control at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), where she helped to evaluate innovations to improve the survival of mothers and babies in countries with high mortality rates, particularly in north-east Nigeria. In February, she became LSHTM’s chaplain, bringing together her research and ministry communities.
Deepthi was the centre of a remarkably close family, and Deepthi leaves behind her mother, who is a priest in Cornwall, and two children, Joe and Naomi, her two brothers, and nieces and nephews, and a beloved granddaughter, Elspeth. As a family, they were formed by Deepthi’s unique presence in their midst.
Speaking at her funeral, Naomi spoke of Deepthi’s love for all the family and of their pride in her many achievements. But Deepthi loved caring for people in all the many different parts of her life, and her touch on their lives will live on. “She had time for us always,” Naomi said. “Even when she was working three jobs, she still found time to look after any and everyone else that needed looking after. . . She was a wonderful granny to Elspeth, sometimes the two of them seemed more like naughty buddies than granny and granddaughter.”
The daughter of a Sri Lankan father and a British mother, Deepthi had a firm belief in the Church of England’s need to reflect the ethnic diversity of the wider population. She wanted to play a part in enabling clergy to have a greater understanding of people from different backgrounds and the challenges that they may face.
The Deepthi whom I knew had great serenity and profound patience: an inner light that shone on those around her, not to dazzle them, but to light their way, to comfort, and to guide. We lament the loss of who she might have become, the priestly ministry that was soon to be hers, and the further contribution to the healing work of research.
Deepthi’s funeral was held at Honor Oak Park crematorium on 28 April. Her mother followed the service in Cornwall, and a memorial service, led by the Archdeacon of Southwark, the Ven. Jane Steen, was broadcast later in the day on Facebook for those who were not able to attend. A recording can be found on YouTube.
The Church has lost someone who would have been a fine priest and who already had a valued ministry at St Christopher’s and as a chaplain at her place of work. Everyone who knew her, and especially her family and friends, have lost a caring and supportive companion, and they will continue to feel her loss keenly even as her influence on their lives continues.
