QUNITESSENTIAL VENERABLE GENTLEMAN: REVEREND CYRIL SHOWERS
By, Seye Adetunmbi, 2/12/2022
In this journey of life, we meet various kinds of people which leaves one with lingering sweet memories. Also, we met a few half way or far in the journey and yet it would be like you started the journey together from the onset. Especially, when the encounters brought so much joy like a beautiful song that one would have loved to sing endlessly because it brought forth pleasant tidings to be desired. Such was my experience with a venerable gentleman of God, Reverend Cyril Rotimi Sigismond Showers who was the Priest-in-Charge of St Botolph's Church, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent in England, 2019 to 2022. He was a diligent man of God whose dedication to duty and remarkable disposition to his parishioners endeared him to all. He was popularly called by Father Cyril by members of the congregation which attested to his carriage as a devoted priest in the vineyard. Reverend Cyril Showers was born in 1964 to the family of Mr. Samuel Dandeson Showers and Mrs Taiwo Showers in Sierra Leone. His father was a civil servant and a printer while his mother was a teacher and a seamstress. Father (Fr) Cyril didn't just take to priesthood, serving in the vineyard runs in the family. His imitable father was a Lay Reader while his grandfather was a Canon of the Cathedral in the Anglican Communion.
Fr Cyril, 1st left with two of his siblings, David and Henry
Showers Dynasty
In Freetown, he had his primary education at Christ Church Primary School and secondary education at Sierra Leone Grammar School, and St Edwards Secondary School for his Higher Secondary Course. He was a product of the famous Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Diploma in Adult Education. He came to the United Kingdom in 1989 where his heartthrob, Miss Dennishia Lewis was based. To the glory of God, Cyril and Dennishia got married in 1991 and God blessed the holy matrimony with a daughter, Delia.
The professional and ethical disposition of Fr. Cyril manifested in all the places where he worked. In his early years in England, he worked as a stock manager at Dolphins Square in Central London. His passion for teaching led him to teach for 20 years at the Charter School, North Dulwich. Apparently, he was destined to be a priest, and this led him to the seminary. In September 2012, he was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church of England. His first posting as an ordained priest was as a curate at St. Faith's Church, North Dulwich where he served for four years until the God's work took him to St. Saviour's Church in Dulwich. In 2019, he became the vicar of St. Botolph's Church in Northfleet and St Mark in Rosherville in the Diocese of Rochester. In addition to his duties as the Priest in Charge of the two parishes, he joyfully conducted weekly devotion at St Botolph's Primary School and at Rosherville Primary School, occasionally.
Right from before relocating to the United Kingdom, he made his presence felt in the various communities he associated with in Sierra Leone. He was actively involved as a member of Sierra Leone Grammar School Band, Fourah Bay College Excelsior Club, St George's Cathedral Youth Fellowship and the choir of St George's Cathedral. As a dedicated citizen and by his innate inclination, he naturally made himself available to various relevant civic engagements in England over the years. By virtue of his membership of many indigenous organisations, coupled with commitment to good causes and being an inspirational leader, he was a rallying point for Sierra Leone community in London. At some point, he served as the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Grammar School Old Boys Association (UK) Foundation Trust, the Fourah Bay College Alumni Association (UK) Branch, and was a founding member of the LEOA Academic Male Voice Choir. He played active roles as a member of Ministers on Assignment and executive committee member of Sierra Leone Inter Diocesan Association. He gladly officiated at numerous community events. He served as the Chaplain of Sierra Leone Grammar School Old Boys Association (UK) Foundation Trust, the Fourah Bay College Alumni Association (UK) Branch and St George's Cathedral Association (UK Branch). He was always available to lend hand of assistance or help wherever he was needed including taking interest in the wellbeing of the communities in which he lived. He was involved in a regeneration project in Ebbsfleet, Kent.
Loving husband and a dotting father
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Reverend Cyril Showers was indeed an inspiration. It was in the morning of Ash Wednesday on March 2nd in 2022 that I walked to the notice board of St Botolph's Church, Northfleet where I saw the email address of the priest in charge of the parish and did an email to inquire about worship days and time. He replied and I was able to join the service at 7pm on that day. The following Sunday, my family worshipped in the church, we were warmly received and became members of the parish. I gained a brother and friend after we met. He contributed among other reasons to my looking forward to worshipping at St Botolph's Church every Sunday. He had a unique way of delivering his homilies. At a point, I mentioned to him that he should consider compiling his sermon notes for publication to facilitate wider reach. He was happy and said that his sister also mentioned it to him.
He rekindled my interest to join the priesthood in the Anglican Communion. As a matter of fact, he encouraged and registered me for a Safeguarding Leadership Course and called my attention to register for "It is Your Calling" of the Diocese of Rochester in the Church of England. He also volunteered information that could guide me in the journey. He gladly gave me all the necessary support when he conducted my 60th birthday holy communion and thanksgiving service on July 21, 2022 at St. Botolph Church. I was really worried when he told me on September 24, 2022 that he was seriously ill. It can then be imagined, the extent of how devastated I was, when Lay Minister Marion Fielder-White announced on the last Sunday in September 2022, that my brother and friend, Cyril was terminally ill and hard limited time left to be with us. I cried bitterly. It was a painful and hurting sad news. The moment I dreaded came, on October 27th, 2022, the notice of him being seriously ill, given to us notwithstanding, it was an irreplaceable loss.
Fr Cyril with Dara, Bukunmi, Seye, Bowo and Semilore Adetunmbi
L-R: Marion Fielder-White, Seye Adetunmbi & Reverend Cyril Showers on 21/7/22
My very dear vicar, inspirer, encourager, trusted brother and prized friend had gone home. Yes, "heaven is home", we are all just passing through this world.
God giveth, He taketh!
We have certainly lost a gem. His time came when we still needed him here.
We surrendered all to Jesus.
It is well....
We will all miss Fr Cyril.
We are left with the fond memories of his devotion to duty, cultured nature, mien as a remarkable priest, sincerity of purpose in his responses to integrated duty calls and of course, his evergreen functional and instructive sermons throughout all the church seasons and on special occasions.
His transition is a personal loss to me because I was looking forward to his mentoring, when I finally commence my journey to ordination in the Church of England, God being my helper.
No doubt, for a long time, any time I remember him, I am bound to be emotional with a very deep sense of an irreplaceable loss!
Who are we to query God?
May God continue to be with his beloved wife, precious daughter, very dear siblings (Moses Ayodeji, Violet Iyabo, Henry Adewale, David Ekundayo, Farnell Wilson and Ebun Pratt); and we his other loved ones. God will grant the family, the fortitude to bear the burden and pain of losing such a precious family man and a diligent servant of God.
We loved Fr Cyril. God loves him more and He has taken him from us.
It is well.....
The befitting funeral given to Fr Cyril on December 2nd, in 2022 at St. Botolph's Church, Northfleet was an attestation of a well loved man of God. The tributes of family members, school mates, friends, colleagues and other associates were overwhelmingly spirit lifting and soul inspiring. Cyril lives on in our hearts.
Fare thee well my beloved vicar, Venerable Fr. Cyril Showers, till we meet to part no more.
TRIBUTES
Mr Toyin Oloniyo wrote:
I mourn, but also thank GOD for the gift and grace given us to have met his committed Soldier of Christ Fr. Cyril.
21/7/2022 your birthday Seye was an opportunity to meet the impressionable Vicar who celebrated the Holy Communion Service warmly, calmly and not without apology that the wine was not delivered in compliance with covid 19 restrictions at the time.
He served his GOD diligently as His true servant and disciple.........can we, or should we delay him receiving the precious Crown laid up for him?
Go forth. Well done Fr. Cyril till we meet again at the feet of Jesus.
To you Seye take heart ❤️ GOD will not leave you comfortless. The pursuit of your quest to be a Priest will be the biggest tribute to this encourager of yours.
GOD bless you and your co-parishioners which must include Fr. Cyril's family.
IT IS WELL. - Toyin Oloniyo
