The Vicars & Curates of Ravenhead
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Do you have any information about past vicars, curates or ministers at St. John, Ravenhead? If so, please contact us with the details.
Clergy whose name appears in blue can be clicked for more information.
Do you have any information about past vicars, curates or ministers at St. John, Ravenhead? If so, please contact us with the details.
Clergy whose name appears in blue can be clicked for more information.
1923: Rev. John Angell Jones
Rev. Jones took temporary charge of St. Johns following the death of Revd. Bolton until the arrival of Rev. Beresford.
Rev. Jones took temporary charge of St. Johns following the death of Revd. Bolton until the arrival of Rev. Beresford.
1923 - 1936: Rev. James Richard Beresford
1948 - 1960: Rev. Ernest Henshaw
Born 1895 in Lancashire, he married Georgina Mortimer in 1924. He was also vicar of St. Polycarps, Everton; St. Thomas, Wavertree and All Saints, Burton in Lonsdale.
Revd. Henshaw loved the parish of Ravenhead, assisted in his ministry by wardens Mr. Forber and Mr. Ramsey. Layreaders at the time were Mr. Turner and Mr. Mills, while the vicarage was then located in Regents Road. Rev. Henshaw died in 1981.
Born 1895 in Lancashire, he married Georgina Mortimer in 1924. He was also vicar of St. Polycarps, Everton; St. Thomas, Wavertree and All Saints, Burton in Lonsdale.
Revd. Henshaw loved the parish of Ravenhead, assisted in his ministry by wardens Mr. Forber and Mr. Ramsey. Layreaders at the time were Mr. Turner and Mr. Mills, while the vicarage was then located in Regents Road. Rev. Henshaw died in 1981.
1960 - 1967: Rev. Malcolm Dorrance Whyte
Born in 1929, Rev. Whyte was ordained priest in 1957 and served a Curacy at Rochdale St Peter with St Margaret (1957-1960) before St. Johns Ravenhead became his first parish as Vicar (1960-1967). After leaving Ravenhead, he moved to Emmanuel, Southport (1967-1995) and during this time was also Rural Dean of North Meols (1978-1989), Area Dean (1989-1995) and an Honourary Canon of Liverpool Cathedral (1991-1996). He retired in 1996 but retained Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Blackburn and Liverpool.
Rev. Whyte was vicar of St. Johns when the the Campbell Rooms were replaced with the current Emmanuel building in 1965. He returned to Emmanuel to preach at a celebration service on the 25th anniversary of its building. The service took place on 4 April 1990.
Born in 1929, Rev. Whyte was ordained priest in 1957 and served a Curacy at Rochdale St Peter with St Margaret (1957-1960) before St. Johns Ravenhead became his first parish as Vicar (1960-1967). After leaving Ravenhead, he moved to Emmanuel, Southport (1967-1995) and during this time was also Rural Dean of North Meols (1978-1989), Area Dean (1989-1995) and an Honourary Canon of Liverpool Cathedral (1991-1996). He retired in 1996 but retained Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Blackburn and Liverpool.
Rev. Whyte was vicar of St. Johns when the the Campbell Rooms were replaced with the current Emmanuel building in 1965. He returned to Emmanuel to preach at a celebration service on the 25th anniversary of its building. The service took place on 4 April 1990.
1967 - 1975: Rev. Frank Allred (Frank's personal website)
Frank was born in 1923. He studied at Tyndale Hall, Bristol between 1964/65. His curacy was at St. Peter's, Halliwell (Diocese of Manchester, 1964-67). From there, Frank moved to Ravenhead, and was vicar in St. Johns Centenary year. His booklet to commemorate the event can be read in our history section.
After leaving St. Johns, Frank became a Rector in Chadwell (Diocese of Chelmsford, 1975 - 1982), then a Team Vicar at Heworth (York, 1982 - 1986). He retired in 1987. Frank returned to St. Johns to celebrate 30 years of Campaigners in the parish in the late 1990's.
Since his retirement, Frank has become an author and has published several books, including 'The Eclipse of the Gospel' and 'Saints In Transit'.
Frank was born in 1923. He studied at Tyndale Hall, Bristol between 1964/65. His curacy was at St. Peter's, Halliwell (Diocese of Manchester, 1964-67). From there, Frank moved to Ravenhead, and was vicar in St. Johns Centenary year. His booklet to commemorate the event can be read in our history section.
After leaving St. Johns, Frank became a Rector in Chadwell (Diocese of Chelmsford, 1975 - 1982), then a Team Vicar at Heworth (York, 1982 - 1986). He retired in 1987. Frank returned to St. Johns to celebrate 30 years of Campaigners in the parish in the late 1990's.
Since his retirement, Frank has become an author and has published several books, including 'The Eclipse of the Gospel' and 'Saints In Transit'.
1976 - 1987: Rev. John Seth Parry
John was born in 1922. He studied at Tyndale Hall in Bristol. His curacy was at St. Marks, St. Helens (Diocese of Liverpool, 1948 - 1952). He then moved to be Curate of Bilton (Diocese of Ripon, 1952 - 1955). Next, John became Rector of St. James', Clitheroe (1955 - 1960). From there, he moved to be Vicar of St. Mary's, Chaddesdon (Derby, 1960 - 1976).
His final parish was St. Johns, Ravenhead, (Diocese of Liverpool, 1976 - 1987) and he retired in 1987. John died in January 2003 and his funeral was held on Friday 24 January 2003 at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
John was born in 1922. He studied at Tyndale Hall in Bristol. His curacy was at St. Marks, St. Helens (Diocese of Liverpool, 1948 - 1952). He then moved to be Curate of Bilton (Diocese of Ripon, 1952 - 1955). Next, John became Rector of St. James', Clitheroe (1955 - 1960). From there, he moved to be Vicar of St. Mary's, Chaddesdon (Derby, 1960 - 1976).
His final parish was St. Johns, Ravenhead, (Diocese of Liverpool, 1976 - 1987) and he retired in 1987. John died in January 2003 and his funeral was held on Friday 24 January 2003 at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
1988 - 25 Jan 2009: Rev. Edward Roy Doran
Roy, born in 1947 in Southport, trained at St. Johns College in Nottingham. Before his move to Ravenhead, he was Curate at Roby Church, Liverpool (1985-88). During Roy's 20 years at St. Johns, he oversaw the gathering of funding and eventual building of the St. Johns Centre along with the development of many other ministries.
In late 2008, Roy announced that he would be leaving Ravenhead and in February 2009, took up his new role of vicar at St. Johns Church, Knotty Ash. He is also Chaplain to the RAF Association.
Roy, born in 1947 in Southport, trained at St. Johns College in Nottingham. Before his move to Ravenhead, he was Curate at Roby Church, Liverpool (1985-88). During Roy's 20 years at St. Johns, he oversaw the gathering of funding and eventual building of the St. Johns Centre along with the development of many other ministries.
In late 2008, Roy announced that he would be leaving Ravenhead and in February 2009, took up his new role of vicar at St. Johns Church, Knotty Ash. He is also Chaplain to the RAF Association.
From 26 Jan 2009: Interregnum
Curates (Incomplete List)
1949 - 1952: Rev. Canon Sydney Thomas Goddard
Born in 1916 and ordained in 1949, Rev. Canon Goddard served a curacy at St. Johns before moving to become Curate of St. Helens Parish Church in charge of St Andrews (1952-1955). He was then installed as Vicar of St Ambrose, Widnes and the Chaplain of Crow Wood Hospital (1955-1959). For the next 12 years, he was Vicar of St Saviour's, Liverpool (1959-1971), but also during this time and beyond (1959-1981) a founder and Warden of World Friendship House - a hostel for overseas students, and Chaplain of Liverpool Maternity Hospital. Between 1969 and 1983, he served as an Honorary Canon of Liverpool Catherdal. He also continued his ministry while he remained able after moving to Wales.
In 1999, a celebration service to mark 50 years of his ministry was held at St. Johns Ravenhead and attended by over 100 people from across the country.
The Bolton News: 'Thanks For The Memory' (29/10/99)
Rev. Canon Goddard died aged 93 in late 2009, his funeral service being held in North Wales.
Diocesan Obituary
Born in 1916 and ordained in 1949, Rev. Canon Goddard served a curacy at St. Johns before moving to become Curate of St. Helens Parish Church in charge of St Andrews (1952-1955). He was then installed as Vicar of St Ambrose, Widnes and the Chaplain of Crow Wood Hospital (1955-1959). For the next 12 years, he was Vicar of St Saviour's, Liverpool (1959-1971), but also during this time and beyond (1959-1981) a founder and Warden of World Friendship House - a hostel for overseas students, and Chaplain of Liverpool Maternity Hospital. Between 1969 and 1983, he served as an Honorary Canon of Liverpool Catherdal. He also continued his ministry while he remained able after moving to Wales.
In 1999, a celebration service to mark 50 years of his ministry was held at St. Johns Ravenhead and attended by over 100 people from across the country.
The Bolton News: 'Thanks For The Memory' (29/10/99)
Rev. Canon Goddard died aged 93 in late 2009, his funeral service being held in North Wales.
Diocesan Obituary
1969 - 1972: Rev. Donald Andrew
Born in 1935, Donald was ordained in 1967 and became Curate of Christ Church, Croydon (1966-69) before serving a Curacy at St. Johns, Ravenhead (1969-1972). He was involved with Scripture Union (1972-1977) before being Vicar of Rusden in the Diocese of Sodor and Man (1977-1982) From 1982, he became Team Rector of Heworth until at least the late 1990s. No further information is known.
Born in 1935, Donald was ordained in 1967 and became Curate of Christ Church, Croydon (1966-69) before serving a Curacy at St. Johns, Ravenhead (1969-1972). He was involved with Scripture Union (1972-1977) before being Vicar of Rusden in the Diocese of Sodor and Man (1977-1982) From 1982, he became Team Rector of Heworth until at least the late 1990s. No further information is known.
1994 - 1998: Rev. Martin Xavier Thorpe
Martin was born in 1966. After leaving St. Johns, he moved to join the Sutton Team in St. Helens. He studied at Collingwood College in Durham and Trinity College, Bristol (1994/95)
Martin was born in 1966. After leaving St. Johns, he moved to join the Sutton Team in St. Helens. He studied at Collingwood College in Durham and Trinity College, Bristol (1994/95)
1998 - 2001: Rev. Patrick Desmond McGrath
Patrick was born in 1964 and studied at Liverpool University, then at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He was curate of Netherton in Liverpool from 1996, and moved to St. Johns in 1998. In 2001, he moved to Kent where he took on his first parish.
Patrick was born in 1964 and studied at Liverpool University, then at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He was curate of Netherton in Liverpool from 1996, and moved to St. Johns in 1998. In 2001, he moved to Kent where he took on his first parish.
