The Clergy and Railways!?! ....

I was asked to give a talk in 2020 to a clergy discussion group on the subject 'Clergy and Trains'. This group had decided to have its annual outing on The East Lancs Railway and I was to be the after dinner 'entertainment'! It did not work out, for obvious reasons in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic altered everyone's plans!

However, as a result of the request, I began to study what was available online and in the press on this subject and the place it takes in the wide range of interests available to the clergy. ... Whether my research counts as original research, I very much doubt. However, you might find what follows of interest!

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/11/14/clergy-and-railways

 

It's far easier to indulge in a hobby such as railway enthusiasm if one only works one day a week

Lights touchpaper and retires to a safe distance

 

I fully agree staffordian, and I wish that was the case. .... Bring on retirement!

 

I am racking my brains, but I think in a John Betjeman film which was I think about churches, there is a scene with a vicar who had a live steam engine.

Edit found it: at about 35 minutes in.

 

Thank you Monkey Magic!

 

Teddy Boston by any chance?

 

Thank you Roger. As a church leader within the evangelical free church wing of the wider church (albeit one who presently has to work at the NHS coalface to put food on the table) I found this fascinating reading. I found myself recognising and agreeing with much that you write here. For myself, although I have quite a wide interest in all things railway, my "hands on" involvement is mainly with model versions. Here I follow the hobby on my own. It gives me an escape from the messy side of life that we so often find ourselves dealing with. It doesn't matter if I leave a model unfinished for months on end because I don't have time, I'm not letting anyone down if it doesn't work, and if it is not perfect nobody is going to criticise it except me. And it is satisfying to make something with your hands.

It's also a lot more wholesome than some other activities available!

Steve B

 

I don't think it is. He looks older. I think he is just a random vicar with a very fine collection of engines.

 

The commentary said it was "Father Cooling" (or something sounding similar). Anybody here with a long knowledge of model engineering recognise the name?

 

Well where would our movement be without a certain Rev Awdry, a certain Bishop of Wakefield and the Rev Samuel Weech of Titfield and his boss the Bishop of Wellchester?

 

As a teenager I did meet Rev Awdry running his layout in Bristol

 

This is a short Pathe feature about Teddy Boston

 

Lovely model of Hereford Barr’s Court. Back in the UK there is a part built version in OO sat in my father’s garage, we spent a long time photographing all of the area in the early 80’s. Alas virtually all photos have been lost.
Again another good read, thank you.

 

Harking back to the 70's and Railway Modellers.
Wasn't there a Reverend who modelled A Great Central layout?
Buckingham possibly.

 

Yes, Peter Denny - quite an inspiration as a modeller. Google "Peter Denny Buckingham" for some pics. I think he also had a garden railway - Narrow Gauge on 32mm gauge using clockwork mechanisms. Brilliant!

Steve

 

More recent there is Father Deinol in Blaenau Ffestiniog who is heavily involved in promoting the improvement of the Conway Valley line.

There is also the Rev Richard Buxton who is involved with the Ffestiniog and I think it was he who blessed 'Welsh Pony' when the loco was steamed for the first time this spring.

@2.40 in the video

 

A bit of additional information on Eric Treacy. He visited the Severn Valley Railway in August 1971, travelling on the footplate of 'mickey mouse' 46443 to Hampton Loade which was then the southern end of the line. He became a life member of the SVR at the time and made return visits on a number of occasions before his death in 1978. When the SVR was building The Engine House in 2005, they appealed for exhibits and were offered (and gratefully accepted) one of his cameras.

 

Father Deinol blessed the first train up the Conway Valley last year.

https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=130018&headline=Steam train trip to mark line reopening§ionIs=news&searchyear=2019

So this brings Eastern Orthodoxy into the fold as well. Next question is railway Rabbis and Imams...

Are railways as a certain Father Jack Hackett would declare 'an ecumenical matter.

 

Rabbi Dr. Walter Rothschild is a railway historian who posts quite frequently to some railway forums - About me (walterrothschild.de)

 

Well, it hasnt washed away so far so it seems to work.......................

And Eastern Orthodox Church Music is magnificent