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A former Rector of St Brelade has died less than a week after receiving the Bailiff’s Silver Seal for his role in repairing German-British relations after World War Two.
Reverend Canon Michael Halliwell – who was honoured with the award last Wednesday – passed away at the age of 96 over the weekend.
Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae has since paid tribute, saying it was a "privilege to recognise his work on behalf of the people of Jersey".
Mr MacRae presented the Reverend with the Bailiff's Silver Seal virtually last week.
Pictured: Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae presented Reverend Canon Halliwell with the honour virtually.
At the ceremony, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany also honoured Rev Halliwell with the Embassy's German-British Friendship Award for his "outstanding contributions to German-British relations and the friendship between Germany and Jersey".
Rev Halliwell was in the company of his son David, daughters Elisabeth, Katharine and Rachel, His Excellency the Ambassador Miguel Berger of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Kingdom, Deputy Philip Ozouf – who nominated him for the award – as well as Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham and Deputy Chief Minister Tom Binet.
The 96-year-old received the award "for his contribution to the island through service to the community and to the betterment of humanity through his work of reconciliation between Germany, Great Britain and Jersey from 1947 onwards".
Michael Halliwell was born on 8 May 1928 in London.
His father worked as a Surgeon at the General Hospital in Jersey.
When he was a student at Oxford aged just 19 in 1947, Rev Halliwell travelled to Germany to visit and befriend German university students to pioneer reconciliation between two countries that had recently been at war.
He described “a scene of total devastation” on a scale that he had never witnessed.
He was enthused with what he described as a “burning enthusiasm to play my part in helping to build a new and peaceful Europe and to help the rising German generation to feel part of the family of nations”.
Rev Halliwell was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1954.
His long record of service included a period between 1962 and 1967 when he served as Chaplain to the British Embassy in Bonn, capital of West Germany, prior to the country's reunification. He preached in both English and German.
After a short period in the UK, he returned to Jersey, serving as the Rector of St Brelade from 1971 to 1996.
In this role, he led efforts to bring together Allied and German veterans to heal the wounds of war.
When German nationals would come to visit the graves of relatives buried in the German cemetery by St Brelade Church, Rev Halliwell would welcome them to the Rectory in their own language and invite them in for refreshment.
Learning that there was a shortage of churches in Nuremberg, Rev Halliwell and others commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Nuremberg trials by gathering a team of builders, electricians, carpenters and other tradesmen to go to Nuremberg and help build a new chapel.
In 1979, when the Channel Island Occupation Society arranged a reunion for Allied and German Naval veterans, Rev Halliwell arranged a special service at St Brelade with hymns that could be sung in both English and German.
The Reverend also had a special interest in the Occupation, having written 'Operation Under Occupation' – a book about his father who was a surgeon at the Jersey hospital at the time.
In 1990, Rev Halliwell and his wife visited Bad Wurzach meeting the Burgomeister (Mayor) and his wife. They discussed twinning St Helier with Bad Wurzach.
Twelve years later, St Helier and Bad Wurzach were formally twinned – a watershed event in the history of Jersey, its subsequent liberation, and reconciliation with the German people.
A statement from the Bailiff's Chambers said that the Reverend "devoted his life as a Christian to the process of reconciliation, recognising that we can forgive but we should not forget".
"His lifelong dedication to building peace and common understanding between nations is commended," it continued.
The Deputy Bailiff, Mr MacRae said: "Rev Canon Michael Halliwell has devoted much of his life to reconciliation between peoples and it is a privilege to recognise his work on behalf of the people of Jersey."
Speaking after the news of his death, he added: "I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Reverend Canon Michael Halliwell.
"Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this time of great loss."
Pictured: Canon Reverend Michael Halliwell.
Reverend Canon Halliwell's son, David Halliwell, said: "My father spent much of the nearly 70 years of his ministry focusing on reconciliation.
"He did a lot behind the scenes and so to be recognised by the two places he has loved above all others – Jersey and Germany – means an enormous amount to him and to his family."
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Miguel Berger, also commented, saying: "Few people have shown such powerful dedication to reconciliation between the people of Jersey and Germany as Reverend Canon Michael Halliwell."
He said it was a "true honour" to take part in the virtual award ceremony, adding that Germany was "deeply grateful" for Rev Halliwell's lifelong work.
Mr Berger added: "I fondly recall meeting the Reverend in his former parish of St Brelade during last year's Liberation Day commemorations.
"His warmth and commitment left a lasting impression on me."
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