Deacon Anthony Clark RIP

Source: Archbishop's House

Westminster Deacon Anthony Clark died on 30 December at the Royal Free Hospital where he was receiving end of life care. Fr Paul McDermott, Parish Priest at St Edward the Confessor, Golders Green, where Anthony ministered, says that Anthony, passed away 'well prepared and peaceful' at his death.

Rev Anthony Clark was born on 9th February 1945 in Somerset West, South Africa. At the age of eighteen he travelled to England and joined the Jesuit novitiate, studying at Heythrop College, with a period in France where he learnt to speak French fluently.

Anthony returned to southern Africa in 1968 working at a Jesuit centre for promoting social involvement in Harare, and from 1969 helping to run a small Jesuit house in Johannesburg. In 1973 he returned to London and Heythrop College and further studies. At this time, he decided that ordination was not for him, though he was active in pastoral ministry, helping to organise trips to Lourdes aboard the Jumbulance. It was also then that he met his future wife, Martine. In 1976 Anthony left the Jesuits and returned to South Africa, to live with his mother. For a short while he taught religious education at a local school, and later he became a lecturer at Turfloop, a black university in the Transvaal. In February 1968, Martine came out from England to join Anthony, and they were married in St Therese's Church in Johannesburg.

Returning to the England in 1979, Anthony served as Head of Religious Education at a school at West Ham, and in 1981 was as appointed a lecturer in the Theology Department at Newman College, Birmingham. In 1984, Anthony and Martine, now with two young children, Sebastian and Vincent, returned to Cricklewood, London. There Anthony started a career which was to span twenty-five years in the Education Service at the Diocese of Westminster.

In 2002 the family moved to Golders Green. Actively involved in parish life, Anthony became aware of the permanent diaconate, leading to his formation and ordination as deacon on 14th June 2008 by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor at Golders Green. Sadly, Martine, who had been fighting cancer since 2003, died two months later at the Royal Free Hospital.

It was because of the many hours and days in the Royal Free that prompted Anthony, on his retirement from the Education Service in August 2009, to become a volunteer hospital chaplain for two days a week, a role which he continued to carry out until recently. In addition to his parish ministry, Anthony was appointed Assistant Director and then Director of the Permanent Diaconate, a role he undertook for seven years, until April 2021. As Director, he was responsible for significant development of the permanent diaconate, with now forty deacons active across the diocese. In August 2022, although now in poor health, Anthony was pleased to organise and take part in a deacons' retreat to Lisieux, a place he was particularly fond of, as it is where he and Martine, who was originally from Paris, would regularly visit.

In 2023 Anthony was honoured at the London Borough of Barnet Civic Awards for Outstanding Service to the Community. Nominated by the Barnet Multi Faith Forum, he was recognised for 'his dedication and commitment to the Barnet Borough community providing support and guidance to many individuals and organisations'. Anthony had been involved in the Multi Faith Forum for over 15 years, promoting interfaith cooperation, and providing a link with the Borough of Barnet on faith matters, and advising on end-of-life arrangements, particularly during the pandemic.

In July 2023, Anthony joined the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, where, as one of the sick and with the sick whom he often served, he was pleased, as deacon to once more proclaim the Gospel.

Deacon Anthony, a dedicated husband and family man, is also remembered by many as an extraordinary man of deep faith, and a humble and caring deacon.

Our prayers are with his sons Vincent and Sebastian, and their families, and with his brother Chris.

We pray for the repose of Deacon Anthony's soul:

Grant, we pray, O merciful God,
a share in eternal happiness
to your servant Deacon Anthony,
on whom you bestowed the gift of ministering in your Church.
May he rise up with your faithful servants
to everlasting glory.
Amen.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

Deacon Anthony Clark's funeral will take place here at St Edward the Confessor, Golders Green:

Reception of the Body and Vigil Service, with Bishop John Sherrington, on Friday 19th January at 4.30pm.
Requiem Mass, with Bishop Paul McAleenan, Saturday 20th January at 10.30am followed by cremation at Golders Green Crematorium at 12noon.

Deacons and priests who wish to take part liturgically are asked to email goldersgreen@rcdow.org.uk to ensure appropriate space is allocated, and to bring purple vestments on the day.

LINK

Meet Deacon Anthony Clark: https://rcdow.org.uk/vocations/news/rev-anthony-clark/