Visitors

In church this morning was Stephen son of  Robin Dunhill vicar 1963 - 73
Stephen is chair of the Thomas Merton Society and was in London to deliver a lecture

Father Robin Dunhill

Robin Dunhill was the fifth vicar of St Jude's serving from 1963 to 1973.

These portraits of him have just been given to the church by Ed Zanders who lived on the Suburb from 1954 to 1969. His A Suburb Childhood is a personal memoir of those days. The pictures are by his mother, Beth Zanders, who also painted the portrait of the fourth Vicar, Fr Bill Masters (1955 -1962),which is in the north west porch of the church.

The Reverend Robin Dunhill and family.

Fr Robin Dunhill

A server in the 1960s

Ed Zanders as a server at St Judes c. 1965. Ed lived on the Suburb from 1954 to 1969. His A Suburb Childhood is a personal memoir of those days written for the Suburb centenary year in 2007. He has recently given three paintings by his mother Beth to the church.

Ed describes his time as a server at St Jude's:

"St Jude's church became a significant part of my life from 1960 to 1969. My mother and I used to join the congregation at Sunday services and then I became an altar boy or server. This was rather like an apprenticeship starting as boat boy, who carries the incense in a metal container to pass to the Thurifer who distributes the incense. The next stages were Acolytes holding candles, Crucifers with a cross, the Thurifer and finally Master of Ceremonies. I enjoyed the ceremony under the direction of Frank Parlett, a kind man of whom I have fond memories. Easter was always busy, with special ceremonies held over four days culminating in the Sunday which was enlivened with trumpets as well as the choir and organ. Being Thurifer involved lighting charcoal squares in the thurible which was a metal container on a chain with holes to let out the smoke from burning incense. In keeping with my pyrotechnic tendencies, I used to set up the maximum amount of charcoal possible, adding spoonfuls of incense to create a massive cloud of smoke that I would then pass over the congregation in an attempt to liven things up.

Disruptions to the services stay in the mind as well; the electrical system was always a bit unreliable, and one evensong the lights went out completely. Luckily there were enough candles burning to keep the service going, but by complete coincidence, just as "let there be light" was being read out, the lights came back on without any human intervention. The other incident was the more painful sight of a poor server colleague who managed a projectile vomit right across the area in front of the altar. The mess was hastily cleared up by the verger with a mop and bucket.

When I started going to St Jude's, the vicar was Bill Masters, a man with a larger than life personality and a great sense of fun. He left in 1962, later becoming Canon of Gibraltar. His successor was Robin Dunhill, a member of the tobacco and luxury goods family. Both of these clergymen and their curates presided over a thriving church with a great musical tradition.

The organist and choirmaster was Charles Proctor, a rather serious and intimidating man, who nevertheless produced some wonderful ecclesiastical music. This was not surprising, since he was originally talent-spotted by Proms founder Sir Henry Wood and had a long career as a composer, organist, conductor and teacher at the Trinity College of Music. St Jude's has obviously maintained this tradition and is a well-known North London venue for concerts and recordings."

Ed serving at the high altar. Fr Robin Dunhill celebrating.

Ed's sister Angela at the Crossing

Processions

Liturgical processions (such as we had for Candlemas) are a feature of our life at St Jude's - indeed the church almost seems to have been designed for them. These illustrations, however, are all from outdoor processions.

1. The Rt Revd Graham Leonard, then Bishop of Willesden, is escorted by Church Wardens Antony Rawlinson and Ernest Tietjen. Frank Parlett is MC. Is that the vicar, Robin Dunhill, acting as deacon on the bishop's right? Probably taken at the opening of the Church Rooms 6 May 1967.

The Bishop of London (Robert Stopford) preceded the Vicar Robin Dunhill (1963- 1973). The church warden on the left is Ernest Tietjen again. Colin Parlett, the server bringing up the procession, has probably been detailed to look after the bishop's mitre and crozier.

The Bishop of London (William Wand) preached at 10.00 High Mass on St Jude's Day (Sunday 28 October) 1945. The vicar, obscured by the sub-deacon, was William Maxwell Rennie (1936 - 1954). A churchwarden is hurrying to his position in front of the bishop.  A policeman stands guard. There were six other services that day - all taken by the curate the Rev'd John B Knight.