In Memory of Dennis

We Miss you Den and yet we press on to the goal that your eyes were fixed on too.  In fond memory....

A video montage of Den's life can be seen here:-   There's only one Dennis Codd!

Comments left On-line by Friends of Dennis

it was a privilege to know Den and be involved in this service. thanks so much

Posted by: neil | November 06, 2007 at 02:32 PM

Den was such a special person, as is Steph. They were both a huge encouragement to me at our monthly Prettygate Churches prayer meeting. They were both an amazing prayer support for our early outreach work. Thank you Lord for the special people you place in our paths.
I will miss your wonderful smile and welcoming hug Den!
Jo xx

Posted by: Jo Macpherson | November 06, 2007 at 02:55 PM

Hello mate. These are the words I always heard when I saw Den, he was my mate, your mate, our mate, their mate. He was a man who seemed to have endless time to talk to everyone. I only got to see him when I came up to Colchester, but I was glad to say he came to my house and I was able to return a little of what he gave me.
Good bye mate, I'll see you again!
Al, Penarth, South Wales

Posted by: Al Dyer | November 06, 2007 at 03:36 PM

It was indeed a privilege to have known Den. I enjoyed many times of fellowship, prayer, laughter (& a glass or two of red wine!) when he would come round to see me whilst Steph went to Trustees meetings. Although he was such a wise and Godly person, he had the knack of always being able to relate to you on a level which allowed you to open up - he encouraged you to be encouraged by him! He truly knew how to get alongside without ever making you feel insignificant. Thankyou Den! I look forward to seeing you again in Glory!

Posted by: Steve Mann | November 06, 2007 at 03:48 PM

Over the last week when I've told people I work with that a friend has died, they've all said what most people say - "I'm very sorry - were you close?". Each time I've found myself saying something like this - "Yes, we weren't related, but we were family."

Den, you've been a friend and "dad" over the last 16 years, and we'll miss you so much. But we praise God for giving you to us, and we will above all else remember the laughter - the childish, uncontrollable, infectious laughter!
L8rs!

Posted by: Gareth Mitchell | November 06, 2007 at 07:07 PM

Losing Den hurts every bit as much as losing someone you are related to, because within minutes of meeting him you felt he was your favourite uncle. I have so many memories of him to treasure - friend, counsellor, comforter, leader, fool for God in the best possible way. Who can forget his roles as Centurian, Bishop and Lancashire shepherd in "Follow That Camel"? I shall remember him giving class 6 at Home Farm the fright of their lives when he walked in as Sergeant Major while I rehearsed their World War Two musical with them. And how he had me up at the crack of dawn on Christmas Day to help lead an early-morning service for his inmates - as usual, putting other peoples' Christmasses before his own.

If ever anyone fulfilled the call for us to not just tell people about Jesus, but to BE Jesus for them, it was Dennis.

These words from a Bill Drake song seem so appropriate:

For the mourning, for the grieving
For the sacrifice of love
That redeems the works of hate
There's a dancing, there's a praising
There's a celebration raised
As a saint completes the race.

Draw back the curtain, tear away the veil
There's a crown of glory waiting for the Witness that prevails
When the days have all been counted, when we face the final hour
We'll hear, "Welcome home my Child, It's your time to wear the crown"

I can just see him trying to keep the crown on while he eats the puddings...

Posted by: Richard Hubbard | November 06, 2007 at 09:14 PM

As a child, one of the only memories I have of church when we were at the gosbecks primary school, was running up to Den and being picked up with a warm and gentle voice talking to me, asking me how I was. See the thing I always noticed about Den was his general love for everyone, and how open it was to talk to him about absolutly anything.
In recent years, Den and I had been holding a sock competition. It would be a contest of who could where the most outrageous socks every Sunday morning. Unfortunatly, most of the time Den failed miserably, but it was always something to joke about. Now, having a whole draw full of ridiculous socks, I thought Steph, you would like to know that I wore the most stupid and brightest socks to the funeral I could find, in memory of Den, who was to me, a dear friend and a father. It is amazing that most of the time I would only see Den on a Sunday, and yet he felt like family, I will never forget his warm heart. There is going to be a gap at Gosbecks church, which will never be able to be replaced, as well as that contageous laughter that he always bought about every Sunday morning!

Posted by: Jacqueline Newman | November 06, 2007 at 09:57 PM

Den you were such a special person and I will truly miss you. You were clearly a
living example of the Father heart of God. You always had a smile, a hug or a word of encouragement. It is clear from all that has been recorded here and meeting with others since you left us that you touched the lives of so many. So whilst your light is no longer with us, those whose lives you have touched will continue to shine because of who you were in Christ.

I have valued your support, encouragement and fathers love over the years I have been at Gosbecks. The church family won't be the same without you but I for one know that you are still encouraging us and wanting us to draw close to Father, just as you did. Thank you for all you were and I will look forward to a hug and celebration when I join you at the pudding end of the banqueting table.

Posted by: Anne Taylor | November 07, 2007 at 01:34 PM

Den was the last person I would ever have wanted to lose.... he simply was the most faithful friend I have ever had. He just gave and gave and gave. When others misunderstood me or judged me he never did. He walked the road with me and embraced what I believed God was saying to and through me. He tended our sheep like the best shepherd. He just brought life and joy into every situation. When I was down he was there. I so enjoyed the last few years of increased experience of the Father's love which he tasted - I loved the way Father God was overwhelming him at times with his love. He so loved God, and knew God loved him. I am going to grieve deeply I know - it's still hard to take in. I will not give up, I'll stay on the road. But I'll miss my friend Den...

Dave

Posted by: David Wuyts | November 07, 2007 at 11:16 PM

Having retired from the (US) military also, Den and I shared simiral (quirky?) insights to life and "the way things are done." Dennis never let the fact that he out ranked me get in the way of our friendship and he was never pretentious about being an officer whereas I was only an NCO. That was Dennis in a nut shell! He will be sorely missed. Not another like him anywhere I've been!

Posted by: John Loy | November 07, 2007 at 11:31 PM

We were out litter picking in King Harold Road with "The Noise". We walked, talked and laughed as we filled our sacks, when crossing the road towards us came a young chap in his twenties. "Hello mate, how're you doing?" greeted Den warmly, "How's it going?" This friend of Den's told us all about his job as a professional carer and some of the difficulties he faced, and Den encouraged in the way he listened and responded. The guy shared his plans for the week-end and then thanked us for tidying the road, as he left. I turned to Den and asked as one does, "Who was that and how do you know him?". There was a grin with the reply, "I don't know. I have never met him before!" This total stranger was welcomed,loved and pastored in the same way as one of Den's closest friends.

Fun was never far away, whether it was intentional (like the four of us plotting and executing an April Fool on a well-deserving pastor), or spontaneous ( as when we, same four, laughed till we cried over a highly recommended book of his, that had such hidden gems!)

Alongside the friendship and fun was the food, with Steph's wonderful baking to fellowship over, doughnuts to strengthen us for Tuesday prayer, and edible treats to lift us when we were low and discouraged.

It was special knowing Den because Den knew God, God lived in him and he lived in God (1 John 4:7-21)

Posted by: Janet Tunstall | November 09, 2007 at 02:13 PM

I want to thank Jesus for the marks Dennis has left in and on my heart that can never be taken from me, beautiful memories that were shared with both him and Steph, treasures to smile at and words spoken in season. No words can fully express what i want to say about a man who truly loved Jesus and lived his life sharing Jesus. Bless you Steph for sharing Den with so many of us, we were truly blessed by your husband!!!
much love and fondest memories
Loll
x

Posted by: Lorraine Johnson | November 11, 2007 at 10:23 PM

Den lived an earthly life full of love laughter faith and integrity. I remember him sharing his wish to be transparent so that Jesus might be clearly seen. He got his wish. People who met Den also met Jesus through him. We miss him.

Posted by: Tracey Cowell | November 16, 2007 at 10:01 PM

It was one of those days when you really wish you weren't on the soaking team. God was doing some messy unpicking in me and I was feeling a bit bleak... but I was up for praying for people and after a bit, went over to pray for Den...as always cuddled up by a raditator. I knelt beside him and asked the Holy Spirit to come...I didn't get any special 'word' or picture from God but trusted that He was doing His stuff and blessing my friend. Then Den openend his eyes.... "Sally - come here...let me pray for you!" It wasn't supposed to be that way round but he did and we hugged and in the days that followed I was truly blessed by the word from God he brought me. That was our Den!

My other special memory was when God, overnight it seemed, put everything in place for Gosbecks to run a Youth Alpha on Sunday mornings. The venue had been the problem...then CYO donated a caravan and we were off...due to start in 10 days time...and Den turned up, donned his overalls and set to work with a scrubbing brush to clean off all the accumulated algae which the years had turned into a dense camouflage layer. It was a morning of grime and hard work and lots of laughter.

Thank you Den, for all you have meant and continue to mean to me. You were always one to sense the need and speak the right word but never afraid to roll your sleeves up and get messy on behalf of the Kingdom. Look forward to a hug in heaven.
Love always Sally.

Posted by: Sally Stephenson | November 26, 2007 at 11:57 PM

Its taken me a long time to be able to say anything about the loss of Den as it seems so wrong , but all I can say is thank God he knows how we all feel. Den was a mans man a person who never looked at anyones weakness but found a reson why you were special . He always was by your side through thick and thin a real mate and I will miss his smile and his warmth . Just cant wait to see him in the Kings parlor (save me a pud mate)

Love always
Mick

Posted by: Mick O'Connell | December 02, 2007 at 05:36 PM

Den-you are a legend, and your faith and love for God has gone before you. I'm looking forward to seeing you when i get to the other side.
love
amy

Do not look down people only look up ,cus we know that's where our good friend now is !! what an excellent testamant to see his wonderful wife Steph standing strong and faithful they ARE a fantastic couple and a true inspiration in every sence of the WORD.....Anita and Steve.

This man was one of the best men I have every know, we love you Dennis, you had a big impact on all age groups, we will never forget you, see you in Heaven. If I could have just a piece of the love and dedication this man had, I would have even more than one person could give. One in a million! ........ Ella

Comments

[Beryl]

A year on, and remembering our friend. I know with sincerity I will never, ever forget Den, his love, or his representation of Jesus in my life. To family we say "Thank you for sharing Den with us all". Beryl