Magazine for March 2009


THE REVEREND CECIL REDGRAVE: VICAR OF ST MARK’S 1960 – 1976


It was with sadness that we learnt that Cecil Redgrave died on February 16th, aged 94, and we send our sympathy to his daughters Christine and Pamela and their families.

 

cecil


Cecil was the Vicar of St Mark’s from 1960 until 1976, and we had the pleasure of seeing him many times after that. He was known as a warm and generous man, and the photograph captures something of this in both him and his wife Joan (who predeceased him). She played a very active part in the ministry to Mark’s.

His one-time Churchwarden, Harry Spooner, described him as “having an impelling way of getting people involved. Soon there were all manner of groups springing up!”


The St Mark’s Parish Hall in Heath Terrace, now Emmanuel Church, was booked every day of the week. A new kitchen was added, which meant real sacrificial giving. The organ was revitalised with the console being brought down to a position behind the choir, the church completely redecorated, crumbling sandstone repaired and the church roof re-tiled.


The BCMS (now known as Crosslinks) started collecting waste paper. For 10 years they collected paper, tied it in bundles, then helped load the truck whenever they had approximately 8 tons for despatch – making in the end over £1,000 a year!


In 1982 Cecil “retired ” to Kenilworth, but retirement is the wrong word as he remained an active clergyman. He led our Easter Day Family Communion in 1990 (with baby chicks walking down the aisle) and continued leading services in Kenilworth and taking out home communions until he was 92, when it was only failing eyesight that prevented him from officiating.


His funeral will be held at St John’s Kenilworth on Thursday 12th March at 2 pm, followed by Tea.


No flowers but donations can be made to:
Church Mission Society (CMS)
c/o
John Taylor Funeral Services,
1-3 Russell Terrace,
Leamington Spa,
Tel. 01926 426052.



Read Cecil’s obituary in the Kenilworth Weekly News here.