ST. VINCENT’S was David’s first parish per se, although he had been a non-stipendiary priest in Huddersfield in the UK while at the University there. When David retired as the Pro Chancellor of Huddersfield University, having been head of the Geography Department and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, he was looking for a new direction in life and this led to him coming to Luz as a locum chaplain in the spring of 1999.
Although David could have applied for the chaplain’s post, he preferred to apply for the quieter, half stipend, part-time job of assistant chaplain. So, in September 2000, David arrived to take up his ministry. He was told to do school on Wednesdays, which was something completely new to a university lecturer who was used to dealing with 18-year-olds plus!
Nonetheless, David threw himself into the challenge wholeheartedly and says it was one of the most rewarding aspects of his time here, getting to know the children of the area and thus their parents in a different environment than that of Sunday services.
Other aspects of his work that David felt had been especially satisfying were meeting a complete cross section of people and, most of all, the relationship he had built up with the Catholic community in the Algarve and, in particular, his friendship with Padre Zé Manuel.
When asked to what he attributed the vast increase in the congregations here, David felt it was the tremendous welcome that everyone attending church received from the parishioners. I feel that David is being far too modest in this aspect and much of the success has to be laid fairly and squarely at his feet alone. He has managed to provide a welcome for all, no matter what their Christian background. As he says, whatever their background, they can “leave their labels at the door”.
A farewell dinner was held recently at the Ocean Club at which David said: “We have had the time of our lives here and you have given us far more than we could ever give you.” We disagree. David and his ever supportive wife, Margaret, have given the area far more than they will ever know.
They are returning to their home in Bramhope, England, and intend to take a well-earned break. But David says that he hasn’t ruled out locum work in other parts of Europe.
No one is sure which way the chaplaincy of St. Vincent’s will go in the future. The congregation in Luz is greater than both other congregations in the Algarve and is the biggest of any C of E parish in Portugal.
Thank you David and Margaret for all you have given us. Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the future…Alun Roberts
Easter in Luz
The culmination of the Christian year being Easter week, much thought and preparation is given throughout the Anglican Communion to its proper celebration. Maundy Service was held in Luz Church, on the final Thursday in Lent, to commemorate The Last Supper.
Next morning saw a packed Church taking part in the dark and tragic recall of Christ’s Crucifixion, with several readings from The New Testament interspersed by recitatives sung by the full choir, together with an extract from Steinar’s Requiem.
Easter Day was both a joyous and a poignant occasion held in the presence of more than 300 people. Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Luz was filled to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. As always, the choir, under the baton of John Dixon, greatly enriched our worship and the congregation gave their all throughout, deeply saddened by the knowledge that this was to be the last time The Reverend Dr. David Kirby would lead us in our hymns and prayers. We also shared the baptism of a very young Steyn Jacobus, welcomed into the community of faith on this special day by all those present.
Under the ministry of Dr. David and, with the help of his wife Margaret, the western end of St. Vincent’s chaplaincy has not only grown in size but also in faith, in our knowledge of the Bible through regular classes and in confidence when facing life’s problems. Margaret Brown
