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Obituary: The Revd John Allen

by
06 October 2023

A correspondent writes:

“THE Society was to form the basis of my spiritual discipline for the rest of my life, and I owe this to my friend David Tustin and St Alphege church,” wrote the Revd John Allen. It was at St Alphege’s, Solihull, that he had been confirmed, was a server, and made a group of lifelong friends, with whom he formed the Society of St Peter. The group wrote a rule of life, pledging their lifelong commitment to God.

John Clement Allen was born in Andover on 17 March 1932, the only child of Reg and Winifred Allen, and after Sharman’s Cross Secondary Modern School, Solihull, where he was head boy, he became a trainee reporter on the Oldbury Weekly News and for Caters News Agency; but his main duty was making tea.

It was during National Service in the Army from 1950 to 1952 that he discovered his vocation to the priesthood. He read theology at King’s College, London, and then went to St Boniface’s College, Warminster, for a year of pastoral studies. He was ordained deacon in York Minster in 1958, and served his title at St Martin of Tour, Middlesbrough.

After a second curacy, John and his wife, Rosalind, the sister of his friend Anthony Bickersteth and one of Archbishop Ramsey’s secretaries, moved to Rochester diocese, where John served three incumbencies and was Area Dean. In 1997, he retired to Sturminster Newton, in Dorset, where he continued to work as an assistant priest at St Mary’s and covered two vacancies. His blog, “Love is the meaning”, appears on the parish website. He was also an assistant chaplain at HM Prison Guys Marsh, near Shaftsbury. He worked up until his 90th birthday.

John was a deeply spiritual and loving man, and the emphasis of his ministry was strongly pastoral. He was greatly respected as a spiritual director and conductor of retreats and quiet days. Prayer was at the heart of everything that John stood for. He wrote a book, also titled Love is the Meaning, which his daughters, Anthea and Rachel, aim to complete and publish.

John remained devoted to Rosalind throughout his life, right up until his final words. Together, they explored many corners of the globe, from South Africa to Iceland, and spent eight months on a parish swap in Australia.

He is survived by Rosalind, Anthea, Rachel, and grandchildren Georgina, Alexandra, Claudia, and Peter.

The Revd John Allen died on 16 July, aged 91.

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