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Who's who
Vicar
From Sunday 22nd March 2009, The Reverend Canon David Wilbourne ceased to be the Vicar of the Parishes of Helmsley and Upper Ryedale, having been appointed Assistant Bishop of Llandaff.
A separate page about David Wilbourne, detailing his appointment, his publications, books and sermons can be found here.
Until a full-time Vicar is appointed, Canon
Francis Hewitt and Reverend
Ben Nicholson will be carrying out his duties.
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Canon Francis Hewitt We are very fortunate to have the guidance and support during the Inter-regnum of Canon Francis Hewitt, the former vicar of Pickering, who will be taking most of our Sunday morning and Wednesday services. Here, Francis introduces himself… |
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I am a Yorkshireman born and bred, and have lived all my life in the broad acres. My formative years were spent in York where my father (also a Canon of York) was Headmaster of the Minster Song School and David Senior taught me to serve and carry a candle in the Minster. My only other claim to fame is that I was Captain of Rugby at St. Peter's School.
I then spent five years at St. Chad's College, Durham, doing a degree and then a diploma in theology as well as training for the Ministry. After marriage to Brenda and ordination in Wakefield Cathedral, I spent 15 years in the West Riding - in Dewsbury, Fixby (Huddersfield) where I learned to play golf, and then finally at King Cross in Halifax - the Anglo-Catholic 'cathedral' of that part of Yorkshire.
Thirty years ago, I came up to North Yorkshire as Vicar of Lastingham and once more followed in David Senior's footprints as Rural Dean of Helmsley. Then I was Vicar and Rural Dean of Pickering until I retired 18 months ago. Brenda has also retired, first from being Head of French at Ampleforth College and then from being Principal French Oral Examiner for Edexcel. Now we live in a bungalow in Kirkbymoorside and enjoy our garden, the birds and taking holidays!
Helmsley and district has always been a 'favourite place' and so I hope that I can help you all, and particularly your curate Ben Nicholson, through this Interregnum - and that if you need a priest you will feel able to call on me. As well as the Sunday morning services, I shall also be in Church for the 9.30 am on Wednesdays and will be available then should anyone need me.
Click here for a picture
of Francis with his wife, Brenda
