John Shearer
Dean Jack Shearer was born on December 30, 1926. He was educated at Belfast Technical High School before studying at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated in 1950.He was ordained in 1950 for Magheralin Parish, County Down. After two years there he served for seven in St Patrick's Parish, Ballymacarrett, before becoming rector of Magheradoll, Ballynahinch. He pioneered a Christian stewardship campaign that was later used in many churches and was published as a book, "Stewardship Step by Step" in 1961.
He became Rector of Seagoe in 1964, where he served until 1985, becoming Archdeacon of Dromore in 1970. At Seagoe he developed an extensive youth programme to combat the effect of paramilitaries on young people. Appointed Dean of Belfast in 1985 he demonstrated his commitment to bridge-building and ecumenical activities. In organising community services in the Cathedral he always tried to ensure that both Protestant and Catholic clergy took part.
In 1998 Dean Shearer and Monsignor Tom Toner initiated a partnership between St Peter's Cathedral and St Anne's. This brought the two cathedrals together in joint witness and in sharing resources and events. He had a strong commitment to building bridges in a divided community.
As the "Black Santa" at Christmas since 1986, Dean Shearer raised around £2m for charity over the 15 Sitouts which he organised. He was grateful for all the donations he received always paying tribute to the givers and drawing attention away from himself. On one occasion a man emerged from the darkness and left a plastic bag on the table behind the Dean. It contained £30,000 in bank notes and a note saying it came from a man who had just died and left instructions with his neighbour to deliver it to the Black Santa. The following year another anonymous donation of £15,000 came in. He said the largest donation he ever received was from an unemployed man who came with his two young sons to give him £5. His final Sitout raised £400,000.
In 1993 he was granted the OBE in the Queen's New Year's honours list.
His wife Morag Williamson, whom he married in 1956, died in 1999. Dean Shearer died suddenly on 12th January 2001 having suffered a heart attack on New Year's Eve. He had completed what he stated was his last Sitout prior to his retirement in May 2001. He was survived by two children, Marc Shearer who lives in Oxford and Michele Grainger, who lives in St Andrews. He had six grandchildren - 11-year-old triplets, Rebecca, Kerry and Catherine (children of Kevin and Michelle Grainger); and Katrina (11), Emma (10) and Jack (3) (children of Marc and Rachel Shearer).
Among the many tributes paid to Dean Shearer were the following:
"Jack Shearer's leadership and influence during his time as Dean of Belfast was immense.He inspired us all by the way in which he dealt with so many problems, the way in which he inspired the whole community each Christmas and the whole way in which he encouraged the partnership between St Anne's Cathedral and St Peter's Cathedral in Belfast in very difficult times." Archbishop Robin Eames.
"He was a very practical man and also deeply spiritual. During his charity sit-outs Dean Shearer always saw the warm-hearted generosity of the people of Belfast. He did much to promote St Anne's as a place of reconciliation and prayer, where people of all persuasions felt comfortable to go." Bishop of Connor, Rt. Revd James Moore.
"His role as dean involved him in the organising of many national, civic and inter-church services where his practical faith and desire to serve to the best of his ability marked him out as a devoted follower of Christ". Dr Sam Hutchinson, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church.
"Part of his legacy is that he, a Shankill Road man, and I, born and bred in Andersonstown, would be the clergy in charge of the Belfast cathedrals which formed the Belfast Cathedral Partnership. That enabled us to open up Belfast as a two-cathedral city. Dean Shearer and I became close friends and I will hold his memory dearly and be continually inspired by his life and energy." Monsignor Tom Toner
"He was a shining example of compassion, common sense and practical Christianity - reaching out to the whole community." Rev. Ken Todd, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland.
"He was a beacon of a selfless generosity and care for the marginalized - he stood for all that is best in Northern Ireland". Secretary of State Peter Mandelson.
"Jack Shearer brought out the best in us." First Minister David Trimble
"The Dean's dedication to the church and the tremendous contribution he made right across the community here will be sadly missed." Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon
"This Christmas was the most successful Black Santa sit-out ever. He was so full of enthusiasm and energy. Suddenly he was gone - in the twinkling of an eye". Canon Raymond Fox, Vicar Choral, St Anne's Cathedral.
During his tenure Dean Shearer oversaw the major reorganisation of the Cathedral precints and the provision of facilities at the West Front for physically challenged persons. He dedicated the “Patience” stained glass window on 1st September 1996. He dedicated the “Faith” window on 27th May 1997 to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Provincial Priory of East Ulster and was present, as Dean, at the dedication of the “Charity” window on 23rd September 1988 and the glass screen and door at the west end on 5th June 1994.
The glass screen at the Chapel of Unity and the Cathedral Centre are dedicated to his memory.
