Rev. Keith Dowding
We regret to announce the passing of Reverend Keith Dowding on the 26th of August, 2008. Keith was 97 years old. Keith was the first General Secretary of the Council of Churches and until a few years ago a regular at our meetings, where he would raise issues of social justice and peace making. We offer our sincere condolences to his family. The family has announced that a private funeral will be followed by a public thanksgiving service at a date to be announced.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
When I think of the Rev. Keith Dowding, I will always remember his saying ’sub specie eternatatum’,under the shadow of eternity, in that everything has an eternal significance. Keith certainly was of great significance to my life. You didn’t need to be a Latin scholar to talk to him, he communcated with anybody.
To Jane and family members, I know the passing of Keith will bring sadness, but feel proud, for Keith was not only an Australian hero, he was one of the world’s greatest Statesmen for social justice and human rights
February 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Nearly 60 years ago now, as a school girl at Ascham, a private girls’ school at Edgecliff, I was sort of radicalised in scripture classes run by Rev. Dowding. What a breath of fresh air, and how challenging he was ! He taught me to question, to make up my own mind. He gave me the spark which eventually turned me from a conservative path to a life of activism in various good causes. Like so many others, I will always be grateful for his memory.