Lawrence pointed me to God

Phil’s Story

Lawrence was an individual I admired greatly. Why? Because he pointed me to God.

He was steadfast. 

He was reliable.

He was childlike. I recall a trip when Lawrence and I went on to Liverpool Football Club. Each time a Liverpool goal went in Lawrence celebrated like a child. At that point I realised how childlike his faith was and that it was played out in so many areas of his life. We are called to have a childlike faith. 

Lawrence held an unfaltering and optimistic (faith-based) outlook on life, which is perhaps best described in the following story he told me on our trip. 

As we walked back to the car after the match it was a freezing cold (up North) winters day (I’m a soft southerner!). As I hurried him along to the warmth of the car, he said to me:

“Don’t worry, I used to walk home after the match in the snow and ice years ago. I was grateful for the walk because at the match all the kids stood at the front. If you were down the front your shoes and trousers were soaked in urine because all the urine ran to the front of the terraces. I was grateful for the long walk home because most times by the time I got home my shoes and trousers would be dried out”.  

It was a joy to celebrate Lawrence’s 90th birthday with him and his family, at the Tab, in 2016, and to remember him with love, at his funeral, in 2019.

It came as no surprise when, in September of this year, I was coming out of the car park at church and somebody had parked across the entrance. The man leaned out of his car window and said as follows:

“Sorry mate, I won’t be long. But I just wanted to ask you if you still have a Sunday service? I have just moved back to the area. When I was a lad, we did not have much. Many times I went hungry. But myself, and others, were fed and watered on countless occasions by Lawrence Langton and his family. There was always room at their table. That has never left me. I know he has died now, but I may come along one Sunday if that would be okay?”

Lawrence Langton – a man who stood firm until the end!