Vicars of St John's

Revd. Phillip Kingswood - 1871 - 1873
Minister of the Iron Church that served the area that became the Parish of St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood.

Revd. Thomas Helmore (1873 - 1874), formerly Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal. A noted authority on plainsong and a key figure in the revival of the English Choral tradition. Over 130 years later, the psalms at St John's are still sung to plainsong tones rather than Anglican Chant prevalent elsewhere.

Revd. William Fairbairn La Trobe-Bateman - 1874 - 1900. First Vicar who built two great parish churches (St Albans, Thornton Heath being the second), raising funds from parishioners. The chancel at St John's is dedicated to his late wife. By all accounts an outstandingly caring and conscientious priest with an engaging sense of humour. Began the tradition of links with missionary work in Africa that continues to this day. The strain took its toll on his health and he took extended holidays to the South of France or Italy recuperate whilst always maintaining contact with London by letters to his flock. In September 1900 he took a new post at All Souls, South Ascot; another Pearson church. He died in 1926 whilst Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.

Revd. William Henry Bolton - 1901 - 1902
Father Bolton arrived from Penzance in February 1901 well versed in Anglo-Catholic tradition despite being brought up as an Evangelical. He did however discontinue the use of incense which had been introduced recently by his predecessor. Later that year, John Pearson produced the designs for a memorial pulpit to Father Bateman and the new vicar chose the designs for the panels and corner figures. In August the following year he died suddenly aged only 52.

Revd. Arthur William Bedford - 1903 - 1916
Previously incumbent of All Hallows, Poplar, Father Bedford took office in January 1903. He immediately discontinued Solemn Evensong and introduced incense albeit in a limited fashion. The parish hall was designed by Frank Pearson and dedicated in June 1904. He married in April 1907. Called up as a military hospital chaplain in 1916, he resigned the living when it became clear that he was going to be away for some time. Became Rector of Mickleham after the first world war.

Revd. Henry Sutherland D Gill - 1916 - 1934
A Scotsman from North Berwick, he had come to London to seek "harder work" and became senior curate in 1914, then vicar in 1916 on the resignation of Father Bedford. With the nation at war and at a time of religious decline he got his wish. He introduced an well ordered style of worship that has remained to this day and made the Solemn Eucharist the focus of Sunday worship. In 1921, St Albans finally became a separate parish. After years of ill health he resigned in 1934, too ill to sign his own name unaided and died in Worthing in 1936 aged 76.

Revd. Cecil Douglas Horsley - 1934 - 1938
Father Horsley had previously served as altar boy at St John's before studying at Cambridge. His arrival from Ealing revitalised a failing parish which could no longer afford the huge staff that it had previously employed. He set about improving the ceremonial and changed the pattern of services often inviting visiting preachers. He left the church free of debt for the first time. The turn around in fortunes was spectacular and this was recognised by his appointment as Bishop of Columbo in 1938 moving on to Gibraltar in 1947. He died in March 1953 in Romsey aged just 50.

Revd. Eric Charles Bailey - 1939 - 1967
Having been a student with Father Horsley at Cambridge, Father Bailey arrived aged 36 having served in Paddington and at All Saints, Margaret Street. A firm Anglo-Catholic he set about instructing the parish in the liturgical detail he wanted observed. In the summer of 1944, St John's became a target for flying bombs and other German incendiary devices. If the original building is a memorial to Father Bateman, it is to Father Bailey that we owe its restoration and the financial legacy that maintains it to this day. He died in January 1967 after a short illness.

Revd. Leslie Gordon Craske - 1967 - 1983
After a brief spell in South London, Father Craske spent some time in Matabeleland before coming to St John's. His incumbency was marked by a more intellectual style combined with a dry sense of humour. With a family to house, a new vicarage was built in 1968 next to the church. In 1983 he was appointed to the living of St Saviours, Guernsey, his wife's birthplace and the location of a holiday cottage which remains their retirement home.

Revd. Peter Burtwell - 1983 - 1990
After an early career as a missionary in Zululand, Father Peter and his family moved to Shropshire and a rural life in 1971. Never entirely comfortable in London, after seven years he returned to the country as a in team rector in the Salisbury area. His ministry at St John's was marked by a focus on pastoral care and an ability to reach those within the parish who would never set foot within the church itself.

Revd. David Martin - 1990 - 2004
With an academic background, Father David was a renowned preacher. His theological insights often casting new light on familiar themes. Reduced the length of services and discontinued processions on high days and some other rituals such as Benediction. He firmly established the nave altar that had been an occasional feature since Father Bailey. With some reluctance he retired from St John's on his 70th birthday for a new post in Sussex. Sadly, David died in July 2005 after a brief illness and is buried in the churchyard at Fletching.

Revd. Beverley Mason - 2005
Beverley studied Theology at Chichester before going to Trinity College, Bristol to train for God's ministry. She was ordained into Holy Orders in 2001 and began her curacy at St Paul's, Rusthall in the Diocese of Rochester. From there she moved to St Margaret’s, Rainham, still in the Diocese of Rochester, to complete her curacy. She arrived at St John's in April 2005 to take charge of her first parish.

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St John the Evangelist, Auckland Road, Upper Norwood, LONDON, SE19 2RX. 020 8653 0378

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