Roger Clarke

gives thanks for twenty five years of priestly ministry

at a Eucharist of Christ the Eternal Priest

on

Sunday 5^th July 2009

Parishioners past and present have sent us their memories

Roger began his ordained ministry as a Curate at St Laurence, Frodsham. He is still remembered there with great affection and gratitude.

PCC Secretary Pam Garner writes:

Father Roger Clarke became well known in Frodsham fairly quickly as the church was a mile away and an up-hill climb from the curate’s house; and he would walk this distance, and back, sometimes several times a day. Then as he progressed from deacon to priest he also moved on from walker to motorist, becoming the proud owner of a very smart Morris Minor.

We all have many fond memories of Father Roger, particularly members of the Youth Group – teenagers then, approaching forty now! One made the comment, “He is an inspirational Christian, kind, caring and non-judgemental”. Another grinningly remembers a youth trip to Blackpool, describing one young person finding a catch underneath a slot machine which released the money – and a mortified Fr. Roger surreptitiously removing his clerical collar! (is this true Roger ?)

On a more serious note he was a quietly charismatic leader of our young people who really loved him and affectionately called him Fr.Rodge.

Father Roger always had time to listen, patience to try to understand and discernment to help and advise. As one person put it, “I wonder if he knows how many lives he has touched and the impact he has had”.

From Frodsham we send him our love and best wishes for his Silver Jubilee of Ordination and for his continuing dedicated ministry.

Roger then moved to St Anne, Wilmslow. Deputy warden, John Hughes, writes:

The Rev. Roger Clarke arrived at St. Anne’s in May 1986.

St. Anne’s is a daughter church of St. Bartholomew’s – the Parish Church of Wilmslow in Cheshire – and during Roger’s time was used for curate training. Thus, in addition to Parish duties, Roger ran St. Anne’s which in most respects was self-governing with its own committee, congregation and financial responsibility. A miniature parish in fact.

Roger was enthusiastic and quickly made his mark. During his time at St. Anne’s he increased the number of communicants, started a prayer group, and was involved with re-starting the Guides.

At the time, the church building was over 100 years old and the roof needed major repair. Roger quickly initiated discussions to raise the roof and raise the money. Unfortunately he left before the project came to fruition but it did happen a year later.

He left Wilmslow Parish in April 1988, having moved the church at St. Anne’s forward in both worship and community spirit.

Thank you, Roger.

Roger’s first parish as Vicar was St Thomas, High Lane. Tony Berry, the Parish Reader, sends these recollections

I was a Reader at St Thomas' when Roger came to us in his first incumbency. He was the third of a string of six first incumbents which have graced our parish with their ministry.

Roger is well remembered as a man with  subtle, deep catholic spirituality for whom worship was central to parish life. He wore his learning with gentleness and great care. He had a happy capacity for encouragement, for pastoral sensitivity and human kindness.

As you may know, Roger has been committed to Cursilllo. Through him a number of us attended a Cursillo event and, although we had very different insights into it and from it, all of us had our sense of the centrality of God in our lives enhanced.

We all send love and greetings as well as thankfulness for his ministry with us and trust that his future ministry is fruitful in Christ.

After High Lane, Roger moved to St Catherine, Heald Green. Anne Hughes, PCC Secretary, sends this appreciation of his six years there, and adds on a personal note: “ I have very fond memories of Roger, and my husband and I try to visit him occasionally.  Roger had a profound influence on my prayer life for which I will always be grateful.”

Roger was a very prayerful caring Vicar who enabled many of our younger members to take a leading role at the All Age Service instituted early on in his ministry at St. Catherine’s. He initiated a Parish Vision and Plan and encouraged the congregation to take an active part in deciding and implementing our future work and mission in Heald Green.

He was instrumental in the development of a closer relationship with the local Methodist Church and we committed ourselves to occasionally working and worshipping together, whilst respecting each others traditions and practices. Roger appointed the Rev. Hilary Evans as our first lady Assistant Curate and she certainly caused a number of us to revise our attitude to women priests.

During his time with us we established a link with the Inner City Parish of St. Chrysostom, Victoria Park, Manchester and enjoyed a number of joint services and social occasions. He was instrumental in establishing the ‘Lite Night’ party as an alternative to Hallowe’en and this was paralleled by a prayer vigil for the children on the streets.

We were very sorry when he left us for St. Bridget’s but know how pleased he was to return to the Wirral. It has been a pleasure to welcome Roger back on a number of occasions and we hope that he retains happy memories of his time at St. Catherine’s. The congregation of St. Catherine’s send their warmest wishes on the 25^th Anniversary of his ‘Priesting’ and for his continued ministry.

Roger came to us as Rector of West Kirby in June 1999. We have been greatly blessed by his ministry here, and hope he will stay with us for many years to come. Elaine Billington gives us her impressions of the transformation that has taken place in our Church community under Roger’s leadership and care.

Before Roger came to St Bridget’s and Caldy, we were faithful and regular congregations. We acknowledged our acquaintances and watched families growing up, often not knowing their names or ever having spoken to them. The brass was cleaned, the flowers tended and strangers welcomed. All seemed well.

The congregations have now become networks of mutually supportive friends. Newcomers are welcomed and absorbed, resulting in a welcome increase in numbers. Our attitude to other denominations has changed from indifference or rivalry to respect and co-operation.

Roger mentors several trainees for various ministries within the Church, and we watch them grow and flourish under his careful guidance. He has a Sunday evening service with a theme of study, a well-attended children’s Sunday Club, a monthly meeting for Contemplative Prayer, prayer meetings, home groups and short courses, a shared Youth Club with the United Reformed Church, besides, with others, taking Communion to the sick and housebound. The worship he leads is joyful, inspiring and reflective. He is very diligent in visiting patients in hospital, which brings them comfort as they value their personal priest.

How has this change in the atmosphere of our churches been achieved? Of course Roger would say that it is by the Grace of God, and that he himself could do nothing on his own. But he is an effective channel for that grace – an effective priest - because he always “gives his all”. His standards never fall, even when he is exhausted or unwell. His sermons are meticulously constructed, scholarly and inspiring, whatever the pressure. I submit that this transformation has been due to Roger’s obvious joy in his Faith. This is infectious, and has succeeded in helping us to become an outward looking, inclusive, “Communion of Believers”.

On a personal note, three of the many things I have learned from Roger: a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist; an understanding of the importance of silence and waiting on God in prayer; and the joy of an Easter celebrated through the great three days.

Trevor Bench-Capon (editor), July 2009

Photographs taken when Roger celebrated the Eucharist for the first time at Frodsham in 1984

( with many thanks to Pam Garner for lending them to us).