Just two weeks ago I asked Peter Matheson if he would write for the May issue of Tui Motu magazine on some of the great homilists in Christianity. "I was hoping that you might know of great homilists of the past and tell us about some of them and why their preaching was so well received — probably by the people rather than church authorities. Does it sound like something you'd be interested in and able to write about?"

Two days later he replied: "I’m sure I can do this. Currently though I’m in hospital with quite serious issues and a possible wound in the stomach. Will keep in touch." Last night we were shocked to hear dear Peter had died. He was a man on mission to his last breath.

Peter Matheson was a Scot, a Presbyterian pastor and Emeritus Professor of Knox Theological College and fellow of the Department of Theology and Religion at Otago University. He had authored at least 15 books in Renaissance and Reformation studies, with a particular focus on radical movements and women's history. In 2017, the quincentenary of the Reformation, he wrote a series of five articles for Tui Motu profiling characters involved in the Reformation. At the end of 2023 with Paul Klemick he launched Poles Down South: A Story of the Early Polish Settlers in Otago & Southland, Aotearoa New Zealand. He also wrote about these Catholic Polish settlers for Tui Motu magazine.

Last month Peter sent a message: "As a friendly ecumenical reader I was particularly struck by the fine quality of your Lent edition. Neil Darragh offered fresh and precise suggestions for our Lenten walk. David More’s sharp critique of kow-towing to power complemented Faggioli’s acute remarks about the present moment being a sickness which must be addressed, and I particularly liked my old friend Gerard Aynsley’s perceptive points how all this relates to the renewal of our local parish life. Truly, as Joe Grayland insists, ours is no “convenient” God. I am very much reminded of Poland’s stout, highly inconvenient resistance to Bismarck’s culture wars, which has energised Polish spirituality ever since. Keep this flag flying, Tui Motu!"

That message epitomised Peter — our loved, generous friend. He often popped in when he was in the area just to say hello and encourage us. Far more frequently he sent us a piece he'd written commenting on a local or world event, usually about social justice. Many of these pieces made it into the magazine. When Kevin Clements, a colleague and friend of Peter, sent us the news of Peter's death, he wrote: "I’ve just heard that our old friend and passionate peace, justice and ecological activist, Peter Matheson, died this morning [14 April]. This is a source of sadness for all who knew and worked with him on any one of thousands of good causes. Our love goes out to Heinke [Peter's wife] and her children who managed to be here for his death."  

And Neil Darragh and John Dunn, colleagues with Peter from when the Catholic seminary was in Mosgiel, wrote: "I was so sorry to hear of Peter Matheson's death. He was very important to Theology in Dunedin and a good friend of the Holy Cross faculty. He also made some great contributions to Tui Motu."

Dear Peter, our thoughtful, generous, energetic, community-minded and prophetic friend, we mourn your going from among us. Live on now in the fulness of the great mystery of love.