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| Canon Brian Fessey obituary | Canon Brian Fessey obituary |
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| My father-in-law Brian Fessey, who has died aged 77, had many talents which he used in the service of others as a headteacher and then as an Anglican priest. | My father-in-law Brian Fessey, who has died aged 77, had many talents which he used in the service of others as a headteacher and then as an Anglican priest. |
| Brian’s calling to the priesthood came in mid-life after a successful career in teaching. He trained in Cheltenham and taught in his home town of Swindon, Wiltshire, and Wakefield, West Yorkshire, before moving to the Isle of Wight in 1972. As deputy head of Solent middle school in Cowes, and head of Swanmore middle school in Ryde, he displayed a humanity, vision and enthusiasm thta inspired pupils and staff. | Brian’s calling to the priesthood came in mid-life after a successful career in teaching. He trained in Cheltenham and taught in his home town of Swindon, Wiltshire, and Wakefield, West Yorkshire, before moving to the Isle of Wight in 1972. As deputy head of Solent middle school in Cowes, and head of Swanmore middle school in Ryde, he displayed a humanity, vision and enthusiasm thta inspired pupils and staff. |
| He became a Church of England priest in 1991 and his wife, Annis (nee Dicker), was among the first group of women to be ordained in 1994. This made her and Brian one of the first ordained couples in the Anglican church. In 1985 the CofE had produced a report on life in the inner cities called Faith in the City, and when Brian and Annis read about the need for more working-class priests they felt it was speaking to them. | He became a Church of England priest in 1991 and his wife, Annis (nee Dicker), was among the first group of women to be ordained in 1994. This made her and Brian one of the first ordained couples in the Anglican church. In 1985 the CofE had produced a report on life in the inner cities called Faith in the City, and when Brian and Annis read about the need for more working-class priests they felt it was speaking to them. |
| In 1992, halfway through Brian’s curacy on the Withywood estate in Bristol, rioting broke out in the neighbouring parish of Hartcliffe, where the couple were living and Annis was the parish deacon; both worked hard to help the community. One of Brian’s legacies there was the creation of an advice and debt counselling centre. | In 1992, halfway through Brian’s curacy on the Withywood estate in Bristol, rioting broke out in the neighbouring parish of Hartcliffe, where the couple were living and Annis was the parish deacon; both worked hard to help the community. One of Brian’s legacies there was the creation of an advice and debt counselling centre. |
| In 1994 he became vicar of Purton, near Swindon, serving also as ecumenical officer for Bristol diocese. As at Withywood he took the church out of the building and into the street. He was made a canon of Bristol cathedral in 2001. | In 1994 he became vicar of Purton, near Swindon, serving also as ecumenical officer for Bristol diocese. As at Withywood he took the church out of the building and into the street. He was made a canon of Bristol cathedral in 2001. |
| Brian was born in Swindon to Walter and Joan (nee Stroud), who ran a newsgents together. Brian’s grandfather, Tom Fessey, had created Swindon’s Council of Social Service in the 1930s and was a Methodist lay preacher who had a big influence on Brian, not least in his commitment to social justice. This shaped his ministry and also made him a committed Liberal Democrat. | Brian was born in Swindon to Walter and Joan (nee Stroud), who ran a newsgents together. Brian’s grandfather, Tom Fessey, had created Swindon’s Council of Social Service in the 1930s and was a Methodist lay preacher who had a big influence on Brian, not least in his commitment to social justice. This shaped his ministry and also made him a committed Liberal Democrat. |
| Brian attended Headlands grammar school in the town, where his big passion was music. A teenager when skiffle appeared, he caught the bug and formed a group, The Sunbeams. His guitar was a vital prop at school assemblies and church services and few retirement bashes passed without a humorous song penned especially for the occasion. | Brian attended Headlands grammar school in the town, where his big passion was music. A teenager when skiffle appeared, he caught the bug and formed a group, The Sunbeams. His guitar was a vital prop at school assemblies and church services and few retirement bashes passed without a humorous song penned especially for the occasion. |
| A natural performer, he helped form an amateur dramatic company on the Isle of Wight, the Strolling Players, and regularly appeared in comic roles, including as a pantomime dame. He was also a keen long-distance runner and supporter of Swindon Town FC. | A natural performer, he helped form an amateur dramatic company on the Isle of Wight, the Strolling Players, and regularly appeared in comic roles, including as a pantomime dame. He was also a keen long-distance runner and supporter of Swindon Town FC. |
| He and Annis ran activity weeks each summer for their own children and those of our wider family. Brian remained active in retirement, chairing Churches Together in the Ryde area and helping to set up a drop-in centre for homeless people called The Open Arms. He led a course at the local University of the Third Age history group until illness forced him to stop. | He and Annis ran activity weeks each summer for their own children and those of our wider family. Brian remained active in retirement, chairing Churches Together in the Ryde area and helping to set up a drop-in centre for homeless people called The Open Arms. He led a course at the local University of the Third Age history group until illness forced him to stop. |
| He is survived by Annis, whom he married in 1962, by their children Andrew, Helen and Jean, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, his sister Ann and his father. | He is survived by Annis, whom he married in 1962, by their children Andrew, Helen and Jean, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, his sister Ann and his father. |