FOR almost 56 years Jack Watson has prepared St. Macartin’s Cathedral for about 9,000 services, stood in the porch to welcome the bride and groom at 492 weddings and shook hands with the bereaved at about 1,300 funerals. 
During Sunday’s church service a special presentation was made in which Sam Morrow, secretary of the select vestry, paid tribute to the Cathedral’s long standing member. 
He said Mr. Watson, who lives in Enniskillen, has retired after serving the Cathedral “so faithfully” for over five decades, setting a record for the church and possibly within the Church of Ireland. 
Mr. Watson has served as caretaker, sexton and dean’s verger which is largely ceremonial. This role involved him having to precede those guests and participants as they took their seats and moved to the reading desk during the course of the service in the Cathedral. For 12 years he was caretaker of both the Cathedral hall and the Cathedral. 
“This was a big job as it not only involved normal caretaking duties but also in the early days involved cutting the grass using a scythe, and clipping the hedges by hand,” said Mr. Morrow on Sunday.
Responsibility for the care taking duties was split in 1974 following Mr. Watson’s appointment to a post in the Ulster Bank. He then continued to carry out the duties associated with the Cathedral. 
“Caretaking in the Cathedral included management of the heating system which for many years was fuelled with coke which was a fuel like coal,” said Mr. Morrow.
“Up to 25 tonnes of coke were required each year and Jack had to carry what was required to keep the fire burning down the steps to the furnace, three times per day, ashes had also to be removed daily. This was all heavy work.”
Mr. Morrow said it was obvious that he loved his work in the church when preparing it for acts of worship. 
“Jack performed his duty as dean’s verger with great professionalism and dignity. On those special ceremonial occasions we were very proud of Jack as he led processions of the great and mighty,” he said. 
Over the years, leaders of the Anglican and other churches have been visitors at the cathedral, including numerous Archbishops of Dublin, Archbishops of Armagh, and the Archbishop of York. Governors of Northern Ireland and politicians were also regular visitors over the years including the Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland, Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland, and Taoiseachs.
“The visits of members of Royal families were taken in Jack’s stride. The included such important personalities as King Leopold, King of The Belgians; The Duke of Gloucester; and to top them all Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh,” said Mr. Morrow.
The role of verger involves close working relationships with others who have responsibility in the Cathedral. Mr. Watson served five rectors, four of those being Deans of Clogher and one going on to be Bishop of Clogher. In addition to the rectors there have been 14 curates or assistants during his time in the Cathedral. There have also been 62 different churchwardens. 
“Whilst Jack was serving the parish he was also serving the Church of Ireland in a much wider role. He served as a member of the Diocesan Synod and also as a member of the General Synod and for many years a Diocesan Reader.
“Jack could not have given the quality of service to the Cathedral community and the wider church without the full support of Mrs. Watson and family and especially their son, Jonathan.
“In conclusion, the parish has been superbly served for almost 56 years by a man of faith. He has been a very modest and kind man,” said Mr. Morrow.
Mr. Watson said: “I regarded it as an important position to fill that role.”
He and his wife, Ethel have four children; Carol, Mae, Ruth and Jonathan.