Herefordshire priest is still working aged 95

Feb 5 2012 by Anuji Varma, Sunday Mercury

MOST 95 year-olds have left their working days long behind them.

But village vicar William Tavernor has no plans to hang up his dog collar. He continues to do the job he loves, leading prayer services, weddings and funerals.

God willing, he’ll still be preaching when he is 100, he reckons.

Despite his mature years Rev Tavernor memorises what he wants to tell his congregation at Kingsland Parish Church in Herefordshire.

And on the rare occasion that he fluffs his lines, well, there are always cue cards he can read from.

The nonagenarian was ordained as a priest at Ledbury Parish Church all of 70 years ago – in December 1941.

He officially retired in 1988, but that was a minor obstacle. He has continued to carry out a service every other Thursday in Kingsland.

Rev Tavernor admits he can’t exactly recall why he became a vicar, but it is something he certainly doesn’t regret.

“I just did it,” he says. “It’s so long ago now. The family certainly approved of my career, and my father was also ordained later in life.

“Going to church was the thing to do and people were very strong in their beliefs back then.

“When I prepare for my sermons I try to memorise what I am going to say but I also use cue cards to help.

“I only ever moved out of the area once, to Kidderminster, but that was very brief. It’s unusual still to be serving the parish where you were ordained after 70 years. But I really do enjoy the job.”

Rev Tavernor’s impressively long service has won him recognition from the Bishop of Hereford, the Right Reverend Anthony Priddis, who gave a special service to mark his achievement in Kingsland Church.

“I guess a lot has changed over the years,” says Rev Tavernor.

“The congregations have gotten smaller. People were also very strong in their beliefs back then.

“One of the biggest differences however, was the salary.

“I had to take a couple of extra jobs just to fund my life in the clergy.”

When the great grandad was first ordained he had to take three part-time jobs – working as a farmer, a physics teacher and a civil defence officer.