Canon Rudd saw wrong in no-one

Born in Mallow, Cork in 1934, Bob was son to Frederick and Violet and youngest brother to Joy, John and Dorothy. Aged 11, Bob moved with his family to Dublin where he attended Dublin High School before moving to Methodist College Belfast.

Bob (or Bobby as he was known to his family) had demonstrated from an early age that he was destined for a life in the ministry. His sister Dorothy fondly remembers Bob as a young child assembling packs of cards on the floor and preaching to them as if they were his congregation.

In 1952 Bob was accepted to Trinity College Dublin where he attained the Forster Prize in Theological Studies and a Master of Divinity. He was ordained as a minister for the Church of Ireland in 1957.

His first curacy was at Shankhill Parish, Lurgan followed by a brief spell at Lisburn Cathedral. He was then appointed curate of Willowfield, Belfast in 1962 and the following year married Rosemary Galloway.

In 1966 family life began when Bob was appointed as Rector of Ballyward and Bryansford. Bob maintained close ties long after his appointment in 1975 to the parish of Moira. This was a fast-growing church community and Bob enjoyed the many challenges it presented.

In 1992 Bob was honoured to become Canon of St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast. His final ministerial appointment came in 1995 where he spent the remainder of his career at Magherally and Annaclone. Here he spent seven happy and rewarding years until his retirement in 2002.

Bob was a family man, was committed to his pastoral duties to the wider community but also took a keen interest in the history of the parishes he worked in. During his time in he wrote A Short History of Drumgooland Parish and Moira: An Historical Handbook.

A keen follower of cricket and rugby Bob will be sorely missed by all who knew him. People were his passion and he saw wrong in no one. His funeral took place on April 22 at Magherally Parish Church followed by his burial at St John’s in Moira. His family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Reverend David Palmer of Magherally and to the Bishop of Down and Dromore Harold Miller for their part in the service. The family would further like to extend their gratitude to the many friends and well wishers that have been touched by Bob’s presence on this earth.

He will be sorely missed by his loving wife and soul mate Rosemary, his children Niall and Jillian and his beloved grandchildren Sarah, Megan, Sophie and Arlo.

For these and for all Thy mercies Oh Lord, make us truly thankful. William Bell and Co. had charge of the funeral arrangements.