Remembering David

Remembering David
Vicar of St Peter’s Wolvercote
1991 – 2004

Hearing St Peter’s new vicar was of mixed Welsh & Jewish parentage, a barrister and Counsel to the Treasury Solicitor before ordination, had a Singapore Chinese wife and school-age son, I was delighted. I thought, he has crossed many boundaries and could take us forward. His name was David and he did.
He told how on his first Sunday, at the 8 o’clock service the congregation, invited to exchange the peace, humoured him but explained afterward that they were not accustomed to this: David felt it important, so they agreed a way forward- they would begin by greeting each other. Similarly with women’s ordination, not universally accepted but which he warmly supported, so St Peter’s was enabled to welcome Joanna Coney one of the first women ‘priested’. Greatly appreciated for his preaching he abandoned the pulpit (3 feet above contradiction) in favour of speaking, without notes, from the chancel step.
Reduced formality marked the transition from old style Sunday School to ‘Share the Word’; on Christmas Eve this became Carols4kids, packed with children & adults, noisy, fun-filled, followed by mince pies & age -appropriate drinks.
Hospitality and collaboration were Keynotes. David welcomed that St Peter’s was part of a Local Ecumenical Partnership with St Michaels and the United Reformed Church in Summertown and established good relationships with Wolvercote Baptists & Roman Catholics at Saints Gregory & Augustine. He valued the help of Revd Paul Rimmer newly retired from Marston, and invited former clergy back for celebrations; celebration another Key.
David loved Holy Week & the Easter Ceremonies; bonfire to kindle the Candle, Vigil readings, worshippers vigorously sprinkled from the Font & Eucharist, followed by simnel cake & bucks’ fizz. The Millennium was marked by bells, midnight Eucharist, fireworks & drinks; Harvest supper’s starters were given & prepared by himself & Lynne.
Church was open for everyone after the Dunblane shooting & a fatal fire on a local canal boat, before the Iraq war. Teenagers smoking in the church porch discovered you could talk with the Vicar & that he expected respect for others. Anyone,‘respectable’ or not, facing loss, anxiety, addiction or breakdown could find accompaniment in a hard place. A magistrate, looking from a window & wondering aloud if the 2 men in jeans & sweaters crossing the road were defendants about to appear in court was told ‘That’s our vicar!’