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From left: Lynda Twidale, Alex Andru, Christine Dawson, Linda Pugh, Rev John Hayward, Irene Harley, Joyce Gleeson, Margaret Looney, Michael Hennessey |
Chef-turned-vicar leaves flock
HERDING his flock on to the stage and raising thousands of pounds for charity are just some examples of the Reverend John Hayward’s achievements at St Martin’s church in Gospel Oak.
But now, after 12 years of service at the church on the corner of Vicars Road and Wellesley Road, he is leaving congregation for a new post in Southwark.
Reverend Hayward said: “Of course I will miss everyone here but I’m looking forward to the move – a new start and new changes that will possibly stretch me in new ways.”
The former chef, who worked in the hospitality industry in his home town of Lewes, East Sussex, until he was 23 and held his first service at Seaford in East Sussex, went on to lead the congregation at King Holy Cross church in King’s Cross for three years before moving to St Martin’s.
Since October 1995 the vicar has led elderly residents at Cressfield Close sheltered housing in monthly worship, accompanying their singing on a keyboard.
Following the 2004 tsunami that struck Asia, more than 400 members of his congregation – including Michael Palin and Lesley Garrett – descended on the church for an impromptu concert in aid of victims of the disaster.
Reverend Hayward said: “What was lovely about it was that all people of all ages and backgrounds mixed with performers side by side.”
The vicar enabled the Gospel Oak Action Link to continue running programmes for young people in the Gospel Oak area most nights of the week despite last year’s cuts by raising, through donations and fundraisers, £340,000 in funding since 1994.
Reverend Hayward’s farewell service will take place at 6.30pm today (Thursday). |
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