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Stephen Burrows snaps up some bargain treats for his son’s birthday party |
Tribute to cricketer who took a swing at Thatcher
HE swapped an Angel altar for the Ashes in Australia, but England cricket sensation David Sheppard will forever be remembered at St Mary’s Church.
Mr Sheppard, who was a curate of the Grade-I listed church in Upper Street for three years, is held in high regard by vicar Canon Dr Graham Kings, who has led a massive fund-raising drive to open a chapel in his memory.
Mr Sheppard’s widow, Lady Sheppard Grace, and Islington Council leader Cllr James Kempton will unveil the Sheppard Chapel at a special service on Sunday morning.
“He was an extraordinary guy,” said Dr Kings. “He was deeply involved in youth clubs and served his entire life in the inner city. David has been my visionary hero since he was ordained.
“He wrote a book called Bias to the Poor – a brilliant book – and he really took on Margaret Thatcher. She said there was no such thing as society, but he published the Faith in the City report. It said there was, and that there was great potential for community as long as the government put some money in. It was rubbished as Marxist at the time and some people say it was the reason he wasn’t made Archbishop of canterbury.”
Mr Sheppard became curate at St Mary’s Islington following a distinguished career as a test cricketer. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1953, but quit the sport after being converted to Christianity in Cambridge.
But with the team in crisis, Mr Sheppard was urged to captain the side in 1955. He received the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who wrote to him personally approving of the move. “It may well delay your Ordination,” warned the Archbishop.
Mr Sheppard was appointed Bishop of Liverpool in 1975 where he became an outspoken critic of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. Later made a life peer, he died in 2005 from cancer.
St Mary’s deputy warden Kathleen Read, who remembers Mr Sheppard from his time at the church, said:
“He was well known as an England cricketer and spoke about Christmas at an Islington town hall meeting with Don Bradman and Colin Cowdrey. But he also had time for people and their needs. He was a pioneer with the boys club.” The Bishop of Stepney, Stephen Oliver, will preach at the service on Sunday from 11am. |
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