A Modern Mother Hilda
Yesterday was the funeral of Rev. Tania Witter. With her late husband Nick they generously purchased The Open Gate, (allowing us four years to pay for it) which facilitated world-wide Community of Aidan and Hilda members and friends who wished to touch base with our lived spirituality in a setting of a holy pilgrim island. Tania brought and sometimes led groups. She inspired her church, Christ Church, Islington, London, to dedicate a year of Sundays and the annual church retreat to exploring the Way of Life. As a result of that Carol Few, a church member, joined the Community, came to live on Holy Island, and served for a time as our secretary.
For years Tania and Nick were based in Vienna, and inspired an international network. Until she went into hospital she ran a church cafe for frail old people, and like Hilda, she did not cease from prayer until the very end.
Last summer she came for a visit to Holy Island and I treasure what was our final thanksgiving meal together. She also met Carol Few. Of The Open Gate closure she simply said ‘Everything has a season’.
Sally Steen represented the Community physically at her funeral service. I joined in through zoom and wrote in the 'Chat' facility: 'Tania is a mother Hilda of the modern church. She offered unceasing prayer and service. She was one with the saints who planted more deeply than all that was wrong. The Community of Aidan and Hilda gives thanks for her generosity, reliability and faithful following of the Way of Life Everlasting.'
