Camden New Journal - news: Prayers for priest

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Camden New Journal - by SUNITA RAPPAI
Published: 10 May 2007

Father Malcolm

Prayers for priest who raised the roof

Saviour of St Michael’s undergoes heart surgery

THE daring priest who spent 10 nights on his church roof last year to raise money for urgent roof repairs is recovering in hospital this week after open-heart surgery.
Father Malcolm Hunter of St Michael’s Church in Camden Town hit the headlines worldwide last June after camping on the crumbling roof to raise the cash. The brave stunt raised more than £110,000 for the project.
The 45-year-old deacon, who was due to be ordained as a priest in June, is a familiar face around Camden Town, usually travelling to the church from his home in Hertfordshire on a motorbike.
He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect three weeks ago, after complaining to his doctor about breathing problems. The father-of-three, a former builder, was admitted to Papworth Hospital in Cambridge last week where he had the surgery on Tuesday.
Doctors have now ordered him to rest for the next three months.
Father Nick Wheeler, the vicar of St Michael’s Church, said the news had stunned colleagues and the congregation who were praying daily for Father Malcolm.
He said: “It all happened so quickly. One day he was at work, the next he’s in hospital and one week later he is recovering from an operation.
“It has been a shock because he is such a fit and healthy person and no one had any idea that he had this condition. But the doctors are confident he is going to make a good recovery”.
He added: “When he went up on the roof last year no one knew he had this going on inside him. We are praying for him daily since the news broke. The children of our church school have been praying for him and all sorts of people in the community have been praying for him and sending him their best wishes.
“I hope that many other people in Camden Town will keep him in their prayers.”
Work to the Grade II listed church roof, which had not been replaced since St Michael’s was built in 1881, began earlier this year.
The church needed to raise £100,000 by Christmas last year to qualify for a £450,000 grant from English Heritage.

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