Post by Steve (Spondon Online) on Mar 18, 2009 15:31:47 GMT 1
The following appeal appeared in Monday's Derby Telegraph:
A former member of Spondon Church Boys' Club, set up in 1939 by one of Derby's longest-serving vicars, the Rev Edward Barber, is appealing for more help to produce a book to celebrate his life.
Stephen Beet, who now lives in France, told the Derby Telegraph: "Two years ago, to mark the centenary of his birth and the 20th anniversary of his death, I appealed for surviving members of the club, which Mr Barber ran for almost 50 years, to contact me with their memories of him, so that the work he carried out during his long ministry could be recorded for posterity.
"Several people did contact me at the time, mainly from the older generation of boys whom he helped in the 1940s and 50s, but I would like to hear from more people, especially members of the club and church during the latter part of his ministry.
"As St Patrick's Day, March 17, marks the 70th anniversary of his induction as vicar at Spondon, I thought it would be a suitable time to renew my appeal."
When he died in 1988, the Rev Thomas Edward Morton Barber, vicar of St Werburgh's, Spondon, had served longer in the same parish – 48 years – than any other priest in the country and was the longest server in the Derby diocese.
Born in 1907, he was the son of the Rev Canon Gerard T Barber, vicar of Hucknall Torkard.
Educated at Repton School and Cambridge, he was ordained at Lincoln Minster as curate of St Nicholas' Church, Lincoln. It was there that he first became renowned for his work with young people when he started a boys' club, a project he carried on in Spondon after being appointed to the parish in March 1939.
"Many Spondon boys had never had a holiday away from home, so, starting as soon as he arrived in 1939, Mr Barber arranged annual camps for them in the heart of Devon," said Stephen. "The holidays became a tradition which he carried on for 49 years until his death in 1988, at the age of 81."
The vicar was so respected by all who knew him that more than 1,000 people attended his funeral in Spondon Church, many travelling thousands of miles from across the globe.
"The night before his funeral, members of Spondon Church Boys' Club, including myself, kept a silent vigil beside his coffin – one boy even defying his father and climbing down a tree outside his bedroom in order to help keep watch in the early hours of the morning!" said Stephen.
"Many people regarded Mr Barber as a self-effacing and saintly man – always on hand to comfort the sick and minister to the dying. He was one of the last true gentlemen of the old school and was brought up in the standards of a bygone age, but this endeared him all the more to his people and he had a true empathy with young and old alike.
"He had no time for church politics and refused to attend clergy meetings, preferring to spend his time caring for his parishioners, for whom he always provided lavish hospitality at the vicarage in Spondon."
Stephen would also like people to contribute photographs to the book, which, he says, will be returned promptly.
"Mr Barber was a much-loved – some might say revered – figure. His work for the youth of Spondon is still widely remembered by those who knew him."
Anyone with memories of Spondon Church Boys' Club or were members of the church itself at that time and have particular memories of Rev Edward Barber are encouraged to contact Stephen Beet by e-mail at: StephenRBeet@gmail.com or by writing to: 13 Rue Principale, 87320 THIAT, France.
A former member of Spondon Church Boys' Club, set up in 1939 by one of Derby's longest-serving vicars, the Rev Edward Barber, is appealing for more help to produce a book to celebrate his life.
Stephen Beet, who now lives in France, told the Derby Telegraph: "Two years ago, to mark the centenary of his birth and the 20th anniversary of his death, I appealed for surviving members of the club, which Mr Barber ran for almost 50 years, to contact me with their memories of him, so that the work he carried out during his long ministry could be recorded for posterity.
"Several people did contact me at the time, mainly from the older generation of boys whom he helped in the 1940s and 50s, but I would like to hear from more people, especially members of the club and church during the latter part of his ministry.
"As St Patrick's Day, March 17, marks the 70th anniversary of his induction as vicar at Spondon, I thought it would be a suitable time to renew my appeal."
When he died in 1988, the Rev Thomas Edward Morton Barber, vicar of St Werburgh's, Spondon, had served longer in the same parish – 48 years – than any other priest in the country and was the longest server in the Derby diocese.
Born in 1907, he was the son of the Rev Canon Gerard T Barber, vicar of Hucknall Torkard.
Educated at Repton School and Cambridge, he was ordained at Lincoln Minster as curate of St Nicholas' Church, Lincoln. It was there that he first became renowned for his work with young people when he started a boys' club, a project he carried on in Spondon after being appointed to the parish in March 1939.
"Many Spondon boys had never had a holiday away from home, so, starting as soon as he arrived in 1939, Mr Barber arranged annual camps for them in the heart of Devon," said Stephen. "The holidays became a tradition which he carried on for 49 years until his death in 1988, at the age of 81."
The vicar was so respected by all who knew him that more than 1,000 people attended his funeral in Spondon Church, many travelling thousands of miles from across the globe.
"The night before his funeral, members of Spondon Church Boys' Club, including myself, kept a silent vigil beside his coffin – one boy even defying his father and climbing down a tree outside his bedroom in order to help keep watch in the early hours of the morning!" said Stephen.
"Many people regarded Mr Barber as a self-effacing and saintly man – always on hand to comfort the sick and minister to the dying. He was one of the last true gentlemen of the old school and was brought up in the standards of a bygone age, but this endeared him all the more to his people and he had a true empathy with young and old alike.
"He had no time for church politics and refused to attend clergy meetings, preferring to spend his time caring for his parishioners, for whom he always provided lavish hospitality at the vicarage in Spondon."
Stephen would also like people to contribute photographs to the book, which, he says, will be returned promptly.
"Mr Barber was a much-loved – some might say revered – figure. His work for the youth of Spondon is still widely remembered by those who knew him."
Anyone with memories of Spondon Church Boys' Club or were members of the church itself at that time and have particular memories of Rev Edward Barber are encouraged to contact Stephen Beet by e-mail at: StephenRBeet@gmail.com or by writing to: 13 Rue Principale, 87320 THIAT, France.
