Stephen Savage writes:
THE Revd John Payne, who died on 21 June, aged 65, had a
notable, if brief, ministry at St Hilda's, Cross Green, Leeds, to
which he came after Nottingham University, Cuddesdon and a first
curacy at Tilehurst.
By February 1976, St Hilda's Clergy House had been empty for
almost two years, and the diocese, pursuing what some regarded as a
mistaken policy towards inner-city parishes, was trying to close
several churches across the city. Morale at St Hilda's was low. The
little flock was looking for a shepherd when there appeared a man
sent from God whose name was John. Everything changed.
Fr Payne brought inspiring leadership, youthful energy,
enthusiasm, and faith in the future. His "style" was absolutely
right for St Hilda's: thoroughly Anglican and Catholic. His
preaching was robust. His conducting of the liturgy was exemplary,
helped by a strong speaking voice and fine singing. Much that he
set in place remained in regular use, tweaked and enhanced, maybe,
but hardly changed, for the next 30 or more years.
Fr John visited in the parish indefatigably, being seen daily
with his list of names and addresses, going around visiting the
sick, the troubled, the bereaved, and the lapsed. He would go out
late at night and in pouring rain. The regular congregation
increased. He recruited many servers, and started a girls' choir.
There was a daily mass. All feast days were properly observed, in
style. He demonstrated what a parish might expect of its priest,
setting a standard of parochial ministry which should be the
norm.
He was an enthusiast for the Church Union, and for Catholic
Renewal. He attended the Loughborough Conference, and its themes
were the subject of many a sermon.
He established good relationships with young and old, being a
friend to all. He enjoyed going into the school, and, like his
predecessors, found it to be a valuable source of pastoral
contacts, which, of course, he followed up. He also met the people
of the parish when he was walking the dog, and visiting the Cross
Green Inn. He was a people person, and was instantly recognised as
the parish priest, as he invariably went out in cassock and
biretta.
It was a happy time, of real progress and upbuilding in every
aspect of parish life. We wanted him to stay longer at St Hilda's,
but St Hilda called him, first to St Hilda's Priory, Sneaton
Castle, in February 1979, and later, as school chaplain, to Whitby.
He also served as an incumbent in two parishes, a convent chaplain,
chaplain and head of a school Classics department at Thirsk, and an
Anglican chaplain in Italy.
His was a distinctive, varied, and effective ministry. His time
at St Hilda's, Leeds, was special for him, and for the
parishioners.