ANDREW SLATER
Born: 5 Mar 1853 – Died: 29 Dec 1906
Clothed: Jun 1875
Professed: 4 Dec 1876
At Christmas we sustained a great loss in the death of Br. Andrew Slater, one of the few lay Brothers left to us. It is difficult for us to realise that his familiar figure is no longer in our midst. For some thirty-four years he had been here, ever busy, ever engaged in work of various kinds; and a year ago it was farthest from anyone's mind that his end was so near. Of robust health, he was never known to be really ill, and therefore his illness and death came with the greater surprise. True, he had aged considerably the last year or two, but showed no signs of real weakness. Last mid-summer the brick oven in the kitchen required repairs; and it was in doing these he caught a chill, which brought on a rheumatic attack and other symptoms. He went away for a change, but returned no better. At the doctor's advice he was sent to Harrogate, where he went through special treatment for about three months. It was of no avail, and he was brought back really a dying man just before Christmas. Owing to a sudden collapse, he was given the Last Sacraments on Christmas Day. He lingered till the 29th of December, on which day he died. Throughout his illness he edified all by his patience arid cheerfulness; and his preparation for death was such as few are privileged to have.
Born near Brownedge in 1853, he came to Ampleforth in 1873, and was professed as a lay brother in 1876, and was in his fifty-fourth year when he died. The funeral took place on New Year's day; and Fr. Abbot's sympathetic sermon on the occasion summed up Br. Andrew's character and Religious Life in the one word that he was 'thorough' in all he did; and that if in his work he had met with difficulties and misunderstandings with others, all would own that he always acted upon what he thought was for the good of his monastery. R.I.P.
Details from the Abbey Necrology
Andrew Andrew SLATER 29 December 1906
1853 5 Mar born near Brownedge
1875 Jun Clothed
1876 4 Dec Professed
1906 29 Dec died at Ampleforth
Sources:
AJ 12:3 (1907) 363