Along with the Godly chemist, a loyal circle of evangelical believers
came together to support my previous Wife and I outside of the church
hall. We had regularly come together in prayer and weeknight Bible study
at the Rectory, and I've no doubt they almost worshipped the ground I
walked on. Such devout souls had upheld my preaching of the gospel
message as they had my denunciation of animal cruelty. And now their
prayer support was to result in a miracle of its own!
Obviously more than a coincidence, the very next morning a letter
awaited me in which I was asked if I would consider the acceptance of an
incumbency elsewhere (I had never ever received a letter offering me an
incumbency before, though I’d applied for several!). The post offered
was that of chaplain of a brand new hospital; and with it went an
industrial Anglo-Catholic parish. The hospital was St Luke's General and
Psychiatric Hospital in Huddersfield and the parish adjacent was St
Luke's, Milnsbridge. where the PM Harold Wilson was brought up.
Because of my recent Sheffield protest against obscene films the
Bishop of Blackburn was keen to consider me for a prestigious post in
his diocese; as indeed, so was the far-off Bishop of Bermuda within his
delightful cathedral. However, the hospital chaplaincy adjacent to a
truly 'down-town' industrial Huddersfield parish was a strong pull
indeed; and the invitation – certainly coming as it did - appeared to be
unmistakably from the hand of God. Consequently, I was soon to find
myself ministering, not only to black, white and half-caste; but -
praise God! – soon to mongrel, moggie and pedigree as well.
- to be continued
Animal Padre's
