Mark was Rector of Cradley and priest-in-charge of Mathon, Storridge and Fromes Hill from 1972 to 1982. Before that time two of the four parishes, Mathon and Cradley had their own priest, and this, when coupled with Mark’s choice to live in Mathon Vicarage were innovations which challenged both priest and parishioners.
He was, at that time, a young man who had worked out exactly what he considered important, made great personal sacrifices, and shaped his life accordingly. It was also a time of change for the church and clergy, as it was for the secular community and it is a small but significant point that Mark was the first vicar to ask to be called by his Christian name.
It is not unusual to find priests who have an affection for the stage; after all there are certain similarities between the professions, and come Christmastime, the annual pantomime found him the star of the show.
Mark was a little eccentric and liked to take his exercise by swinging from the lychgate or vaulting over the gravestones. But it was his love of the internal combustion engine which made him distinctly different. In addition to his bicycle and motorcycle he had a car , usually a Citroen, which he considered “broke the mould” and to keep them on the road, he filled the stone building in the vicarage grounds , known as the “studio” with spares for his own vehicles and for others standing by the vicarage..
None of this interfered with his pastoral duties which he conducted in fulfilment of the Gospels, and on one occasion, when in Worcester he felt compelled not to pass by on the other side when he saw an unkempt homeless man in the street and brought him back to Mathon for food and lodging. There was a P.C.C. meeting in the church that night, and deeming it unwise to leave his guest in the vicarage, he brought him to the meeting, where prayers were said for the guest, who was rather bemused.
Mark was generous too with his care for seriously ill or bereaved folk, and had been known to stay with them until 2 a.m. His wife said she never knew when he would come home.
It is true that he offended some parishioners as young men have offended their elders since time immemorial. Some did not like the election poster which appeared in his garden, particularly as it favoured the Liberal party. But his sermons were eloquent and challenging and it was generally felt by parishioners that here was a man of a strong faith , as they listened to his words and found in them a personal message. They felt they were lucky to have known him, here in Mathon.
Believing he had to follow a new path he left for a different environment, working in a London Transport garage, where he hoped “to be a genuine co-worker on the shop floor, and still a priest”
Later he moved to Craven Arms and opened a motorcycle repair shop appropriately named “Rev up” He is now retired but still takes some services in local churches as a non-stipendiary priest.