Professor Jack Scarisbrick MBE
1928-2026
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Dear Jack
Thank you for your faith,friendship,vision and inspiration, which fostered my work for Life over many years.Jack and Nuala always supported our work in Leicester at the Care Centre,Hostel and Charity Shop..All our Leicester Life Members,staff and volunteers send love and deep sympathy to the family.Rest in peace ,Jack
Mary O’Connor
With fond memories of a wonderful man.
Jack and Nuala have been an inspiration to us all, finding positive solutions for those who most needed help. Their commitment to housing projects, practical support, counselling and a Helpline, has changed many lives for the better. The foundation of Zoe’s Place brought much comfort, help and support to the families of very sick children.
Jack’s inspiration and leadership has led us to work as volunteers in Life for nearly 30 years.
May he rest in peace.
I had the privilege of meeting Jack and Nauala on many occasions and working here in Derby to further the aims of the charity . It was an honour to be involved in LIFE and to know personally that we made a difference to so many lives. You are together again and reaping your Heavenly rewards.
My late husband Christopher and I were privileged to be active members of Life in Oxford from 1973 to 2016. Jack and Nuala invited us and our family to many happy meals at their home, and Jack became the godfather of one of our sons. We went on enjoying their friendship until Jack’s death. We supported and were inspired by Jack’s vision of making abortion unnecessary in a civilised society, and we admired his tireless courage in facing the opposition of an uncomprehending, often hostile society. We also shared Jack’s love of Tudor history, and had many wonderful conversations with him. I feel very proud to have known this great man. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Overwhelming achievement.
May he Rest in Peace.
With grateful thanks for Jack’s inspirational leadership, example and work. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
Thank you Jack for a life full of bravery and inspiration.
Jack Scarisbrick’s death marks the end of an era. He is the champion of our age, the William Wilberforce of our time! A dear friend and an inspiration to us. He now can enter into his well deserved reward. Requiescat in pace. Mary and Tony Hetherington, Blackpool Life group.
Thanks Jack for your valued work. May you serve as an inspiration to others who continue to serve in this field.
I was moved by the words said at Sheffield Cathedral today.
Proud to have known such a wonderful man. Deepest sympathy, John and Mary Davies.
To the family of Jack, we praise the Lord for his wonderful life, stoic stance and significant contributions towards the sanctity of human life. May the Lord comfort you during this difficult time.
Thank you for the work that you did for Life. You touched many lives and changed many more. The whole Ethos of Supporting, nurturing, guiding and helping young mothers obtain housing and living successfully independently must not be forgotten or eroded. A place and culture built on positivity not negativity. Your legacy will be remembered Jack. Much love and warm wishes to your family x
Dear Jack whom I knew over many years. Always energetic and charismatic. Rest in peace. Amen
REMINISCENCES OF DEALINGS WITH THE PROFESSOR AND LIFE
Anthony Hofler
From a ‘human’ point of view, I am sorry to have read that Professor Scarisbrick has died. Based on the Christian faith that (as Requiem Mass affirms) at death “life is changed, not ended,” I hope that his family are confident that as the door to eternity opened he heard Our Lord say “Well done, good and faithful servant;…enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:14-23).
Probably after reading a reference to it in “The Universe,” I joined LIFE in 1971. In those days it seemed to be primarily a campaigning group, its purpose indicated clearly in its ‘sub-title’ of “Save The Unborn Child” (subsequently dropped, at least overtly). Being then (and still now) primarily a ‘black-and-white’ type of person, I was attracted by its absolutist attitude to abortion. I met the Professor in the Summer of ’72, when he came to talk to a group about starting a local branch. Regretfully nothing came of it (the first of a succession of ‘false dawns’ which became almost ‘the story of my life’). A simultaneously-stirring separate group nearby did, I believe, ‘get off the ground,’ although only just about, but so little was heard of it that it might have practically faded out.
I saw the Professor again when he spoke at a meeting in the Catholic Chaplaincy of my University. I did not hear of any ‘concrete’ result(s) from that, but because the audience in such a place is transient and comprises people from far-flung places such result(s) probably cannot be expected realistically.
Another encounter with him which I recall was after I asked him whether LIFE had a list of ‘vetted and approved’ people who are available to visit local LIFE groups for the purpose of giving a formal talk on some aspect of pro-life significance, in order to put forward ideas for thought and debate; just a simple case of a pro-lifer going to talk to other pro-lifers about matters of interest. He misunderstood the enquiry, saying that LIFE were sufficiently supplied with in-house resources (i.e. training and the like) and preferred women to speak on LIFE’s behalf.
I tried to clarify my enquiry, explaining that I was not thinking of putting myself forward as someone who could train LIFE workers how to do (or do better) something which they were not doing or doing defectively, or of speaking on behalf of LIFE, but that there seemed a pervasive aversion to intellectual involvement and an absence of outlets for adequate expression, the combined effect being equivalent to an irremovable gag. I had found no channels through which pro-lifers could exchange views (I excluded the internet – ‘blogs’ etcetera – because what is on the internet can be read by anyone, and my mind was – and remains – directed towards allies, not adversaries). Have you, too, noticed had the same apparent lack of non-internet-facilitated discussion? Instead of speaking on behalf of LIFE, my thought was only of speaking to LIFE (in the sense of LIFE groups) by giving ‘intellectual’ talks/lectures intended to stimulate thought about pro-life subjects; putting it another way, going to meet pro-lifers to say something like ‘Here is a subject which I have been thinking about and which strikes me as important enough to warrant consideration. After I’ve set out the way I look at it, you might like to talk about it and (if you agree that action is needed) make some plans.’ Quite possibly, of course, private meetings to think about relatively broad issues were not, and are not, held by local LIFE groups. Perhaps the groups used to meet, and still meet, only in so far as necessary to attend to the practical aspects of the group’s activities, and occasionally to have a fund-raising ‘social’. In those circumstances there was no scope for what I had in mind. If, however, it was known that groups did get together sometimes to hear talks on the pro-life situation generally, and LIFE had a list of speakers who were reliable in their orthodoxy, I wondered whether I could contribute something worth hearing. A brochure entitled “Introduction to LIFE Services” (containing a few statistics which seemed to indicate that it was produced a year or two before this engagement with the Professor) had made clear that LIFE’s activities are part of a larger “vision” and “mission” – to achieve “the utmost respect [for human life], in law and in practice,” and therefore “[to challenge] governments and policy makers to adopt [the necessary] policies”. The brochure’s “ground rules” included allowing each person to speak freely and to feel that people are listening. So it seemed to me that talks, to LIFE groups (not to ‘outside’ audiences) on that sort of level were justifiable, and I wondered whether they were a feature of LIFE’s internal ‘world’. Those clarifications of my idea failed to remove the Professor’s interpretation that my suggestion related to “in-house resources” such as training. So the matter was dropped.
Whereas giving talks to groups was my idea, I received one of his at around the same time. He said that it would be interesting to study what is meant by the Abortion Act’s reference to opinions of registered medical practitioners “in good faith.” It needed, he said, critical enquiry, and wondered whether any authorities had expressed opinions. He asked me whether I could investigate, and said that if something useful were discovered LIFE would consider taking appropriate legal action. I replied that certainly I would investigate it if he was confident that it would be worth while. My expectation, however, was that the potential benefit might not be worth the substantial work involved. [Decades ago Lord Denning told the House of Lords that the responsibility which the Abortion Act placed on the medical profession could not be enforced effectively by the law. “[A]bortion has,” he said, become “facile and easy” in the hands of that profession. “If the doctor gives his opinion honestly and in good faith, no jury will challenge it, no law will challenge it. That is why there have been no prosecutions under the Act. … There are not likely to be. This is a matter always for the doctors to determine” (“Hansard,” 6th December 1982, vol. 437, cols. 76-78). In subsequent cases English courts have consistently decided against anti-abortion arguments, and some judges have indicated not merely a dispassionate application of the law but clear approval of it and dissatisfaction with residual limits.] Although I had made the governing factor the Professor’s opinion, he made it mine, saying that if I did not think investigation of “good faith” worthwhile, so be it, as if I had ‘turned it down flat’. I had not. I had asked him for his valued comments on the ‘effort/benefit’ question, because it is basic common sense to begin a project only if confident that any potential gain will be proportionate to the effort. I looked forward to the relevant advice and shared views of a respected ‘comrade-in-arms,’ but never received them, and so there the matter ended.
I saw him again, very briefly, a year or two later when he visited a LIFE shop. I had helped to ‘set it up’ and ‘get it going,’ but came into conflict over a question of whether Catholic principle should govern what was included in the stock. I maintained that it should, offered evidence from the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” supporting my position, and said that we are individually responsible to God for what we do (subsequently I found the very same principle written by Pope St. John Paul in “Evangelium Vitae,” paragraph 74: “Each individual in fact has moral responsibility for the acts which he personally performs; no one can be exempted from this responsibility, and on the basis of it everyone will be judged by God himself” – Rom. 2:6; 14:12). My adversary refused to look at the offered evidence and said “I leave my faith at the door when I come in here” (a policy which had been condemned as a “serious error” by “Gaudium et Spes,” paragraph 43). My refusal to adopt that attitude resulted in ‘the sack’. I wonder what the Professor would have thought if I had told him. The incident had no effect on my donations thereafter. I am sure that he would have been pleased about that. It has helped to sustain the provision of right choice, contrasting with cultural worship of choice itself.
Life always insisted, said the Professor, “that you couldn’t just be against something, you couldn’t say ‘thou shalt not’ without helping people not to” (“The Universe,” 20th January 2017, p.32), but encouragements to virtue should not supplant condemnations of evil. The Ten Commandments are dominated by prohibitions, not by positive encouragements. If people are simply invited to consider A as an alternative to B, those who are already inclined towards A will probably be more likely to choose it, and some who were unaware of reasons for choosing it may do so, but others will decide to choose B. ‘Thou shalt not’ might not dissuade them, but (depending on what is at stake) it should be enforced. To focus on people who are amenable to wholesome influence is intrinsically meritorious, but ‘second-best’. When B is intrinsically wrong, it deserves to be suppressed (neglect to do so holds open the door to temptation; Jesus said “Woe to him by whom temptations come” – Lk. 17:1). Having always been enthusiastic for such suppression, I applaud people such as the late Father Richard Devane, S.J., who was said to want to make people more religious by depriving them of any opportunity to be anything else (Michael Duggan, reviewing “Richard Devane SJ,” by Martin Walsh; “Catholic Herald” magazine, 4th October 2019, p.34). Perhaps because of a natural need to sustain morale, in some people (particularly religious ones) there seems a co-existence of enthusiasm for good work and disregard of the ‘scales’ remaining tilted heavily in the wrong direction (discomforting facts are sometimes known as ‘elephants in the room,’ and people whose ‘face facts’ candour upsets the ‘apple-cart’ of diplomacy illustrate the story of the only witness of a royal procession who called out that “the Emperor has no clothes!”). If (a) the desire, and (b) the objective of effort, are to eradicate rather than to mitigate evil, it is reasonable to maintain awareness of whether – and, if so, how much – progress has been made toward eradication. Professor Scarisbrick was quoted as having said that between a third and a half of all women who were counselled by LIFE continued with their pregnancies; so as well as being a very small percentage of all ‘problem pregnancy’ cases, at best only half decided against abortion (“Catholic Herald,” 9th September 2011, p.3). Any increase of the latter group since then must be swamped by the all-time ‘high’ number of abortions in Britain (296,177 in 2023 – most-recently-available official figures; more than 11 million since 1968).
Despite forty-nine years of undisturbed legal abortion, in 2017 the Professor seemed optimistic: “I think the pro-life scene worldwide is looking much healthier now,” and “I think there’s some room now for a big counter-attack” (“The Universe,” op cit. Legal abortion was approved by referendum in the Republic of Ireland in 2018, and – unsurprisingly fulfilling a celebratory prediction on a placard – “The North [was] Next”). I find it difficult to understand how optimism can survive sustained evidence of adversity; hope can, but the two things are different – hope is a matter of desire, but optimism is a matter of expectation. Perhaps some people’s busy-ness distracts them from discouragement: “[N]o force silences doubt as effectively as zeal – a passionate clinging to familiar and reliable truths that quiets dissonance and snuffs out uncertainty in an avalanche of action.” (“Unfollow,” by Megan Phelps-Roper; riverrun [an imprint of Quercus Editions Ltd., 2020, p.147). Yet even the busiest people have quiet times, when reality can reappear.
The Professor has been described as (inter alia) inspirational, charismatic, and magnetic. Certainly he had the mysterious ‘knack’ of inducing people to respond not merely favourably (anyone can profess approval) but actively to his suggestions. My experience has been to the contrary, as exemplified by parts of this essay. I am glad for him that he had the pleasure of seeing some concrete success from his efforts. May God rest his soul.
All my love to the family. What a legacy left from Jack and Nuala. May he truly rest in peace.
Since I first heard the sad news, I have been thinking about what to write. Here goes.
Jack was, quite simply, the most civilised man I have ever known. To be in his company was to feel the warmth of someone who had his feet firmly on the ground and his heart constantly reaching out – towards the vulnerable, the grieving, the forgotten.
He gave me my start at Life, and what struck me from the beginning was that Jack never lost sight of what mattered: the urgent, important work of the charity, and the real human beings at the centre of it. He was principled without being preachy, brilliant without a trace of arrogance. A historian of international standing and yet he always had time for you. Always.
He and Nuala were the Life force behind Life in every sense. Together they built something extraordinary – and they did it by inspiring people so deeply that volunteers gave 50+ years to the cause.
Jack embraced life in all its fullness, and I will treasure so many happy memories – not least the many laughs we shared. He was funny, warm, and I will miss him.
As a Catholic, Jack’s faith was the bedrock of everything: his compassion, his courage, his unshakeable conviction that every life carries infinite worth. For those who share that faith, it is a profound comfort to know he has gone home to the God he served so faithfully and so joyfully. For those of us who do not, the comfort is simpler but no less real – the world is better, immeasurably better, for the fact that Jack was in it.
They don’t make them like that any more.
With deepest love and gratitude.
I never met Jack but he has touched thousands of lives and his legacy will be treasured. May he RIP.
My heartfelt sympathy to Jack Scarisbrick family. Appreciating all he has done throughout the years for the Life charity. May his legacy live on through the inspiring works of the Life charity.
From one who has admired Jack Scarisbrick’s work for many years. May he rest in peace.
May Jack now receive a reward from our Lord for all he did for mothers and unborn babies during his life here. His work must have led to the saving of thousands of little lives.
Jack meant so much to all those who believe in the Sanctity of life. Jack and his wife founded a Charity which enabled mothers to keep their babies. All those who are enjoying motherhood because of his dedication will be eternally grateful.
Jack and Nuala were an inspiration to all of us who believe in the sanctity of human life from conception and had the courage to do something positive in the face of much opposition.
May they rest together in eternal peace.
From first meeting Jack and Nuala as a medical student in 1976 they both had a tremendous impact on my formation as a Catholic doctor.
Little did I know at that time, that with Jack’s unstinting pro-life support, he would encourage amd support, for as long as possible, the work of the Life FertilityCare Clinic. Without his commitment the more than 200 babies born as a result of the clinic’s work would simply not be in the world today. Jack was totally committed to the pro-life cause from its foundation with every ounce of his being. A real example to all.
Keeping Jack, Nuala and their family in my prayers at this sad time.
Thank you Jack for all you gave during your life to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Many people are alive today because of what you started, the work you did, the time you spent for others.
Theresa Bevans
OUR TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR JACK SCARISBRICK MARCH 2026
I (Sid Garland) and my wife Jean here in Belfast will always be thankful for the privilege of knowing Professor Jack Scarisbrick.
We thank God for the memory of Jack Scarisbrick, a remarkable man of moral commitment and strategic vision. He and his dynamic wife Nuala led the work of the prolife movement Life in the UK.When we felt compelled to do something to resist the imposition of the 1967 Abortion Act on Northern Ireland, we are always glad that we discovered Life. We appreciated the balanced way that Life (Save the Unborn Child) set out to defend the rights of the unborn: advocating for the vulnerable, educating young and old and offering a counselling and housing service that provided excellent care for both lives!
Jack and Nuala understood where we were coming from as evangelical Christians and within a few years, together with Dr John Ling, we were allowed to form the group known as Evangelicals for Life. This helped us across the UK but especially in NI to mobilise the broad spectrum of evangelical churches and their members and to join with others in making sure that all the main political parties had a united front to oppose the introduction of the 67 Abortion Act.Jack understood how to make common cause with evangelical Christians on a non-religious platform. Neither Jack nor Nuala (nor jean and myself) were denying our religious faith and how it gave a foundation for our prolife convictions and actions. But Life was able to form a politically wise, non-religious, non-party political platform. Jack was the thinker and strategist supreme. He was not an absolutist in the sense that he understood that politics is the art of the possible, and so sometimes requires what others might have described as “compromise”. Jack welcomed every inch of progress that could be made in defending vulnerable lives at any stage and in any condition. The National Conferences in Leamington Spa were inspirational as they brought together brilliant minds, kind hearts and leaders of the pro-life cause from across the world.
We enjoyed his wisdom as well as regular presence in the start of Life (NI) in Belfast in 1980. And the more we got to know Jack, the more we appreciated that he was not only a man with strong convictions, but he had a heart for what it meant to hold or lose tiny baby but also the real panic caused by a crisis pregnancy. He and Nuala understood the stress that pushed some down the abortion road and their response was magnificent both in opening their own home (at one time they had five different girls staying with them until their baby was born. We and many other Life members were inspired to do the same. I love this comment from Jack: “It’s so easy just to say ‘thou shalt not.’ … It’s got to be able to always show that it’s a loving, positive thing and not judgmental, not sanctimonious, not on a high horse, but actually out there, rolling up their sleeves and helping people.”Jack and Nuala practiced that but in forming Life, they multiplied their effectiveness and reach across the UK and beyond. It is hard to weigh up the impact. Perhaps a few statistics highlight the many lives impacted. In 2020, at its 50th Anniversary, it was reported that, all across the UK, Life had accommodated over 12,000 mums and babies!
In NI, Jack’s advice and wisdom made a big difference. The Abortion Act was not introduced and the Government accepted our case that they were obliged to recognise the needs of those facing crisis pregnancies and to financially support the effort of Life to provide housing. As the threat of changing the abortion law in Northern Ireland was again on the horizon, the “Both Lives Matter” group set up a billboard which read: “100,000 people are alive today because of our laws on abortion. Why change that?” This huge billboard provoked a lot of interest and a few complaints which were directed to the advertising regulator. However, the numbers stood up to scrutiny. Economist Dr Esmond Birnie described the figure as a “plausible and cautious” estimate. And there was rejoicing when the complaints were dismissed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). This was but one angle on the many lives impacted by the life of Jack Scarisbrick.Jack was a great Chairman. Whether at the Annual Conference or in visiting branches of ACTS, Jack approached each individual with a twinkle in his eye, always welcoming and making sure that everyone involved in Life felt equally important in their different roles. Jack was a true gentleman, clever, courteous, honourable and humble.
We thank God for his brilliant mind, his gentle manner and his encouraging friendship. We share in feeling his loss and offer our warm condolences to his family and to the Life organisation.Rev Dr Sid Garland, former Chairman of Life NI and co-founder of Evangelicals for Life and Mrs Jean Garland, former Caring Officer of Life NI.
Ive been considering what to say since I heard the sad news. I’m not closer to anything worthy of what Jack meant to me. Incredible man. Such intellect, such talent and compassion and Faith. There are whole families of people alive today because of Jack and Nualas work. He fought the good fight and I have no doubt that he is with Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Thank you for everything Jack. For everything your taught me and for all the guidance and encouragement you gave me over the years. Rest in His Glorious presence.
Jack together with Nuala took the right, difficult and life-consuming approach to the problem of abortion
Thank you for all the good work you did for Life. RIP
May he rest in peace with Nuala.
May Jack rest in blissful peace with his equally wonderful, kind and generous wife.
Two happy souls whose lives were well and truly lived. Thanking Abba Father for them.
It has been one of the great privileges of my life to know Jack and to work with him in the pro-life cause. That privilege will only continue as I will always remember, with great thanksgiving, both Jack and Nuala.
Peter D McGuire
My husband and I are sad to read of the recent death of Jack Scarisbrick co founder of Life Charity.He and his wife Nuala did a tremendous amount of work to support single Mothers and their babies.R.I.P.
I have strong memories of Jack and Nuala at the early Life Conferences . He was so welcoming to each of us and always impressed and rallied with his clear speeches. Stirring stuff. RIP true gifted leader.
Jack, I knew you and Nuala from being a little girl. Your unwavering passion for the protection of human life radiated through everything you did and said. In my adult years we became kindred spirits; you always had a sneaky plan for getting me involved in your projects! During your many visits to Blackpool you made us all feel so special, and you truly valued our friendship and support for all things Life. The legacy you leave is incredible. The lives saved through your work: innumerable. The world has been a better place because of your tireless work, Jack. You will never be forgotten, and your legacy will live on for years to come.
All my love
I had the privilege of meeting Jack during the 1980’s. He and Nuala have done so much for the pro-life cause. God bless him and Nuala. Love from Harry
Dear Jack reunited with Naula, A long life well lived and now for sure hearing those words
“Well done good and faithful servant “
May God reward you and Nuala with heavenly blessings.
My condolences to all in Life who came into contact with this gifted and compassionate man. I did not know him, but his works will I’m sure stand the test of time.
With deepest sympathy
My commitment and passion for life , over decades ,as a teacher and human being, comes from an early connection with LIFE and thus from Jack and Nuala’s inspirational work. Love wins.
The news of Jack’s passing on to Glory (for that’s the only next thing after such an amazing life of service to God and humanity) took me by surprise. Jack was… no, still is my mentor. I had tried hard to see him last year when I visited UK but wasn’t very lucky.
Jack had made an instant impression on me when I got to know him around the year 2009, first through his written works and then most deeply when I met him in person in 2010. His charismatic persona, deep faith and an unwavering passion for human life were only topped up by a sense of humor that made you most relaxed in his presence. We spent a most wonderful week at his home with his dear wife Nuala attending the LIFE at 40 Conference.
Following that we communicated from time to time on how to setup LIFE Charity in Nigeria. His messages to me were always the encouragement: “Keep fighting the good fight!” But these weren’t mere words of encouragement. They were the charge of a soldier who had been in the thick of the war and poured out his life for the safety of the unborn and their mothers.
Jack lives on! In his writings, his Charity and most of all in the millions of lives he saved and touched of which I am lucky to be one. I shall forever have fond memories of him and draw inspiration from his most amazing life.
Jack is the kind of man you wished would live forever. But he has done his bit here. And heaven can’t wait to have their beautiful soul back.
Rest on dearest Jack! Your life is a gift to humanity. Please keep interceding for all of us who are still in the battle to be given a bit of your spirit to do even just a little bit of what you did to make our world a better place, amen!
It was with a sorrowful heart that I heard of the passing of this amazing and kind man.
It was as a new member of Doncaster Life some 33yrs ago that I first heard of him and his lovely wife Nuala. They were a real driving force of the charity, and as far as I’m aware, the founders.
We met on many occasions , marches, vigils, courses and AGM’s.
It was his warmth that stood out mostly for me, not withstanding his pro life values. I remember him allowing me to smoke my cigar after dinner at his home. Not something of any great importance but an example of his acceptance of the fact that a person , even one that would stink his dining room out was perfectly welcome. He is with Nuala in Gods loving arms. RIP 🙏
Giving thanks for the wonderful example, faith, inspiration and life of Jack, whose strong, courageous commitment and gentleness gave both tremendous support and hope to the unborn child and mother.
May he rest in eternal peace.
Giving thanks for the wonderful example, faith, inspiration and life of Jack, whose strong, courageous commitment and gentleness gave both tremendous support and hope to the unborn child and mother.
May he rest in eternal peace.
Dear Jack, such a wonderful man whom I had the honour of knowing for over 50 years, during my time working both as a volunteer and an employee of LIFE. He is a legend. A knight in shining armour for the prolife cause. I shall miss his presence as I still do that of dear Nuala. ( My twin. We had the same birthday) Both of them will be remembered and honoured for the legacy the left and the great work they did for mother’s and babies.
With love and huge respect. It was an honour to know and work with both of you!!
What a wonderful long life you lived, you have given so many the opportunity of life with support from the charity . Thank you. you leave a great legacy may the good work continue. RIEP x
With deepest sympathy
Thank you, Jack, for your kindness and compassion and all the inspiring work you carried out through Life.
Rest in Peace as I am certain that you will.
I shall offer Mass for the response of Jack’s soul, comfort and strength for Nuala and her family and all whom the Society seeks to help.
Eternal rest grant to him O Lord.A retired Diocesan priest
I never met Jack but he has touched thousands of lives and his legacy will be treasured. May he RIP.
An outstanding human being, compassionate, gentle and so kind.
We are very grateful for his inspiring example.
I met and listened to Jack in the 1970s and 1980s and as a non Catholic I recognised that Jack was a great, compassionate man. His, and Nuala’s vision of helping unsupported pregnant mothers with practical caring help was the right path to take and it inspired me to join Life. Today, my thoughts are with his family and the charity he jointly founded. Farewell Jack, your vision will live on
He inspired me in early 70s,to set up our local life group at The Holy Ghost Church in Yeovil!
In memory of a pioneer in Christian practical caring service.
I’m thanksgiving for a life truly well lived.
Rest in Peace.
With condolences to Jack’s family and friends, and prayers for the repose of his soul. May he rest in peace.
In memory of Jack, doughty fighter for life, for mothers, for babies.
There’s one more angel in heaven!
Thank you for your loving work for women and their babies. Rest in Peace
Thankyou Jack and Nuala for showing us the light in such a humble and spiritual way. Your genuine love and courage have been a beacon of hope to me in my own prolife efforts. Uncompromising. Inspirational. Compassionate. Practical. All words that describe your earthly ministry, now well completed. Rest in eternal light together, as is your heavenly reward. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Well done for such great service. RIEP 🙏🏽
May Jack rest in peace. My Dad was involved in the Life organisation and forwarded the news of Jack’s passing to me so I’ve decided to leave a small donation in honour of Jack’s great work with the pro life movement.
Thank you Jack for caring enough to start and nurture Life God bless you and may you rest in peace
Faith, courage and vision. Thank you Jack. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.
I have so many memories of Jack…firstly as my employer who I would dread being asked to type something for! He would stand behind me as I fumbled to type his words and shout Nooo as I inevitably used incorrect punctuation and spelt everything wrong 😂 but he still continued to ask me 🥰
Secondly and mostly, as my best friends Dad. So many times I’ve spent with Jack & Nuala at fantastic parties and family gatherings, or simply having delicious food around the kitchen table with them both whilst Sarah told them tales about me!! So much laughter and love, so many memories.
I have never met anyone who was more of a true gentleman than Jack, clever, courteous & honorable and so very humble. He basked in the glow of his glorious and supportive family and watched them flourish with pride over the years. The same family who wrapped him in love and dignity right up until the end.
His legacy in Life and the family he has created will live on for generations to come, and I for one am so glad I got to be a part of his world. With much love always Nicky xxxx
I was a volunteer for the Life Charity and Life Centre in Bristol from 1998 for a number of years before moving abroad. I attended a number of meetings in Life House and attended conferences. Jack always made everyone involved in Life feel equally important in the roles we played and his life and example was an inspiration. He and Nuala hosted me also at their home with great hospitality. In a short message here I cannot express my admiration for Jack properly but suffice to say his vision and mission is the very best of the pro-life movement. Of course in the maelstrom of debate around abortion Jack was never going to be properly recognised for the work he did, I always believed he should have been given a peerage and sat in the House of Lords! But of course the thousands of women and babies he has saved will be his recognition and legacy. In an amusing but heartfelt way I always think of him when I hear the words of the song ‘The Impossible Dream’, I think it could have been written for Jack. I am sure he is now rewarded in heaven and I pray for all his family and that his life’s work will go from strength to strength. Gerard Payne, Brussels.
An inspirational figure. I not only encountered him on the pro-life cause but got him down to give a brilliant lecture on Thomas More at the Marlborough Festival.
If I had a criticism of him it would be that his absolutism inhibited effective pro-life political action. Our opponents are adept at ‘salami sandwich’ political strategy – achieve a relatively minor objective and then expand it. This was the political tactic with the Abortion Act and pervades the current Euthanasia Bill. Jack would only accept an absolutist agenda, although it has to be said that his uncompromising stance maintained attention to the core issues.
A pleasure and an honour to meet Jack and Nuala when they came to open our Life shop.
Sadly the shop closed in recent years due to insurmountable issues with the premises and building but the happy memory of that evening remains.
I have had the privilege and honour of knowing and working with Jack for over thirty years. In all that time, his depth of knowledge , his unwavering integrity and his extraordinary ability to command a silent room of hundreds when speaking – always without a single written note- which never ceased to amaze me. But more than anything, I will remember his humour, his profound love for Nuala and his family, and his absolute, immovable commitment to Life and the unborn. Those who knew him will understand that Jack didn’t just support the cause; he lived it, breathed it, and defended it with every fibre of his being. Having read the Catholic World Press report this morning, I could not have described him better than they did : “J.J Scarisbrick, Life’s Happy Warrior” – Requiescat in pace Jack.
An inspirational life lived for others in love. Thank you for your example Jack. Rest in God’s Glory
What an amazing life and such a huge contribution to society. I was privileged to work for Life in London and to run a Life House for several years. He was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to so many people.
Many, many thanks for all you have done for human life.
The LIFE report on Jack’s life shows what a man of vision AND practicality he was. Thank God for him and his mission.
So sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. A truly inspirational person alongside his beloved wife and team. He was someone who knew so deeply his purpose in life and embraced it completely. I hope his family and friends will find comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on, saving countless lives. Truly incredible 🙏🏻
God bless you Jack. A tireless servant for God and all his people.
Thanks for listening to Dr Maire Heley and me and founding the work in Romania and thanks for coming to Uganda with Nuala as a result of which Rwenzori Life House cares for up to 26 girls and their babies. Maire died on Feb 29 six years ago; please God you’ll soon meet up. Thanks a million, Jean
A distinguished historian, co-founder of Life and a real gentleman. It was a privilege tio have known him. RIP
Wonderful memories of Life Conferences and Jack and Nuala’s inspiring enthusiasm and commitment. Thank you. May you rest in peace.
Goodbye Jack and thanks for all your wonderful, pioneering work in saving mothers and babies from abortion. These lives saved will be your greatest memorial and the most eloquent testimony to your courage and compassion.
A true Christian, a great warrior for the Lord. Thank you.
I am thankful for the sound ,compassionate teaching we received from Jack,Nuela and Life charity many years ago.
Many fond memories of the enthusiasm and support shown to young ‘prolife’ doctors, such as myself. Special memories of Jack and Nuala when the Life Hospital was set up in Liverpool all those years ago!
I never had the chance to meet Jack, but his life and work made a real impression on me. I followed the work of Life for many years before I came to work here, and I always knew how much of it was shaped by his, and his wife, Nuala’s, faith and determination.
Their conviction, courage and unwavering dedication to the most vulnerable feel rare today. Jack and Nuala stood firm in what they believed and gave so much of their life to it. We will do well if we can be even a little like Jack and Nuala.
I’m very grateful for his life, and I’m keeping his family in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Jack, good and faithful servant.
It has been one of the greatest privileges of my role as CEO to witness the lasting impact of Jack’s life and mission.
I will always hold dear the memories of Jack and Nuala visiting our shop openings together. They never came simply to “attend” an event — they came to encourage, to listen, and to thank every volunteer and member of staff personally. Their presence brought warmth, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose. You could see so clearly that Life was not just an organisation they founded; it was a living expression of their faith, their love, and their unwavering commitment to the dignity of every human life.
Jack’s humility was as striking as his intellect. Despite his remarkable academic achievements and national recognition, he carried himself with gentleness and sincerity. Alongside Nuala, he showed us that leadership is rooted not in status, but in service.
Their partnership was extraordinary — united in love, conviction, and compassion. It is a comfort to picture them reunited.
On behalf of myself and all at Life, I offer my deepest gratitude for the gift of Jack’s life, and my heartfelt condolences to his family. His legacy lives on in every woman supported, every person heard and every act of kindness carried out in Life’s name.
Jack was such an inspiration, he will be missed by all that knew him, RIP Jack.
