Richard Emmanuel Obituary

The sister of Rev Richard Emmanuel is saddened to announce his unexpected passing on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Boston Medical Center at the age of 78. Richard was the founder of The Church, which for over ¬fifty years, since 1968, was a "spiritual metaphysical bus stop", meditation center, meeting house and counseling for the greater Gloucester community and beyond. His life was a quest for spiritual growth and consciousness, combined with a principled outspoken critique of society and its norms. He participated in a number of religious conferences focused on the human narrative.

He was also an accomplished artist, and his provocative installations and paintings gave form to his spiritual quest. Anthony Petro, religious professor at Boston University, has said of his work that The Church is part of the 60's idiosyncratic religious movement where the focus is on the spiritual. The art installation invites the viewer to interact with the energy of the artwork to wake up one's spiritual self. "To question one's life journey and path is to become conscious of what you sow is what you're going to reap".

Reverend Emmanuel always referred to The Church as an experiment and to that end there was no formal structure, no admission charge, and no formal holidays. To support this endeavor, at various time he worked as a consultant to international companies such as General Electric, Sony, and Volkswagen, to name a few, on how to market their products using iconography and symbols.

Emmanuel was also a vocal supporter and activist for environmental issues in and around Cape Ann to preserve its natural resources.

Reverend Emmanuel grew up in Lynn, where his father was a machinist for General Electric and his mother, a portrait artist and teacher who was involved in the liberal side of the Catholic Church. He attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. studying comparative religions, philosophy and architecture. His growing interest in Eastern religions, mysticism and psychedelia, coalesced in The Church, which became place for like-minded individuals and spiritual seekers of diverse beliefs, as well as lost souls seeking meaning to their lives.

His outgoing and caring personality as well as spiritual guidance will be missed by many locally and worldwide people. As he pointed out many times, in life three things are true: "One, nobody gets out of here alive. Two, your collection stays here, because shrouds don't have pockets, and three, there is no meaning to this life unless you create it"He is survived by his sister Diahnka Kingsley, a visual designer.

A celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date which will be posted on the Greely Funeral Home website at http://www.greelyfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, Tax deductible donations to preserve The Church legacy can be sent to: Diahnka Kingsley c/o The Church 149 East Main Street Gloucester, MA 01930.

Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester.