BOLTON PARISH CHURCH

Funeral Service
and
Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of

Nat Lofthouse OBE

The Lion of Vienna
27th August 1925 - 15th January 2011

Bolton Wanderers and England

Freeman of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton

26th January 2011

 Order of Service
Welcome & Opening Prayer
The Revd Matt Thompson
Vicar of Bolton

Hymn: Abide with me

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
when other helpers fail and comforts flee,
help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour;

what but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;

ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's dark sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;

shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Video Presentation
The life and career of Nat Lofthouse

Eulogies
Mr Phil Gartside
Chairman, Bolton Wanderers Football Club

Mr Gordon Taylor
Chief Executive, Professional Footballers Association
 Hymn: Love divine all loves excelling
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above;
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,

pure and sinless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast out crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Collect
Reading
Revelation 21.1-7
Mr Allan Duckworth
Chief Executive, Bolton Wanderers Football Club

Address
The Venerable Alan Wolstencroft
Archdeacon Emeritus & former Vicar of Bolton
 Anthem
My Soul There is a Country by CHH Parry
Bolton Parish Church Choir

Prayers
The Revd Matt Thompson

Hymn: Now thank we all our God

Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mother's arms
hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God

through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessèd peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God

the Father now be given,
the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

The Commendation
The Revd Matt Thompson
 The Blessing
The Rt Revd Chris Edmondson
Bishop of Bolton

Nunc Dimittis
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen :
thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared :
before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Organ Voluntary: Nimrod by Elgar

Mr Michael Pain,
Director of Music, Bolton Parish Church

The book of Condolence will be available in Church

following the service for those wishing to sign.

The book of Condolence is also available at the

Reebok Stadium and Bolton Town Hall.
Nat Lofthouse OBE
The Lion of Vienna
27th August 1925 - 15th January 2011