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Thornbury vicar John Suddard's funeral is held Thornbury vicar John Suddard's funeral held
(about 1 hour later)
More than 450 people have attended the funeral of vicar John Suddards at the church where he served as the parish priest.More than 450 people have attended the funeral of vicar John Suddards at the church where he served as the parish priest.
Mr Suddards, 59, was found stabbed to death at his vicarage in Thornbury near Bristol on 14 February.Mr Suddards, 59, was found stabbed to death at his vicarage in Thornbury near Bristol on 14 February.
Stephen Farrow, 47, is accused of murdering him and Betty Yates, 77, from Bewdley in Worcestershire.Stephen Farrow, 47, is accused of murdering him and Betty Yates, 77, from Bewdley in Worcestershire.
The service, a requiem mass, was led by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Michael Perham.The service, a requiem mass, was led by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Michael Perham.
'Easter faith' 'So touched'
The Archdeacon of Cheltenham, the Venerable Robert Springett, also took part in the service. During the service, Mr Suddard's brother-in-law read a tribute that was written by his wife Hilary.
Speaking ahead of the service, The Venerable Geoffrey Sidaway, Archdeacon of Gloucester, paid tribute to Mr Suddards. Phil Bosworth said: "As John's family we have great memories of John. Just last Christmas Day he was very happy to sit with a large glass of red wine having enjoyed a good dinner and chuckling at Absolutely Fabulous on TV.
"It's seven weeks of course since these communities were rocked by the tragic death of their parish priest," he said. "His visits to us in Dorset were always a 'getaway from it all' time and he enjoyed walking the dog on the beach or taking Hilary and the children on tours of the countryside with a pub lunch on the way."
"Today we have brought John back here to the church he loved and served for a funeral Eucharist led by the Bishop of Gloucester. Mr Suddards had been due to hold the wedding service of his niece later in the year, which Mr Bosworth said he had been "especially looking forward to".
"There will be friends here from his parish in the Diocese of Chelmsford, from Gloucestershire and further afield. "It seemed right that his funeral should be here at St Mary's at this beautiful church, of which John was so proud, and for which he had such great plans," he said.
"A great celebration of John's life and Ministry and of Easter faith and hope." "He would be so touched to see so many people here today; family, old and new friends, godchildren, parishioners, colleagues and fellow clergy.
Bruce Goodwin, the curate at St Mary's who worked alongside Mr Suddards, said: "There have been different ways in which people have tried to remember John. "His loss is keenly felt and he is much missed," added Mr Bosworth.
"We had a service early on, and then a vigil and now the funeral today will be a degree of closure in some ways for some people to come to terms with his death." 'Degree of closure'
Mr Suddards had taken his post in Thornbury last July, having come from the Diocese of Chelmsford in Essex. The Venerable Geoffrey Sidaway, Archdeacon of Gloucester, paid tribute to Mr Suddards.
The Archdeacon of Gloucester said: "John was a lovely man, he was a kind man, a generous man. "John was a lovely man, he was a kind man, a generous man," he said.
"There's a lovely story that he used to light a lamp every night during his Ministry to signal to parishioners he was there for them if they needed him."There's a lovely story that he used to light a lamp every night during his Ministry to signal to parishioners he was there for them if they needed him.
"And we now know that made him very vulnerable."And we now know that made him very vulnerable.
"He was also a very gifted man, a very able man and had a great sense of humour.""He was also a very gifted man, a very able man and had a great sense of humour."
The communion service at St Mary's church in Thornbury is expected to last about two hours. Bruce Goodwin, the curate at St Mary's who worked alongside Mr Suddards said: "There have been different ways in which people have tried to remember John.
After the funeral he will be cremated and his ashes will be interred at his family's church in Dorset. "We had a service early on, and then a vigil and now the funeral today will be a degree of closure in some ways for some people to come to terms with his death."
Mr Suddards had taken his post in Thornbury last July, having come from the Diocese of Chelmsford in Essex.
The Archdeacon of Cheltenham, the Venerable Robert Springett, took part in Saturday's service which was also attended by friends and members of his former parish.
After the funeral a private cremation was due to take place. His ashes will be interred at his family's grave in Dorset.