Deacon Cedric May writes:

THE Revd Graham Leworthy was a priest at St Peter’s, Sark, in the Channel Islands, in the three years (2001-04) that I was the Methodist Minister at the chapel. I am a communicant Anglican, as well as an ordained deacon in the Methodist diaconal order.

I spent as much time in St Peter’s as in the chapel, and Graham and I shared many services, often just the two of us at evening prayer, or with one or two others at early communion. We shared a deep devotion to the eucharist.

I joined St Peter’s choir as often as I could, as did Graham. He was musical and had a fine baritone singing voice.

He was a generous colleague, sharing equally the services on the civic occasions: Remembrance Sunday with a procession and ceremony at the war memorial; the Sea Sunday services, the date in August chosen so that the tide filled the Creux Harbour. The ferry brought the Salvation Army Players. The Guernsey Lifeboat brought the Lieutenant Governor, who read the lesson. Christmas at St Peter’s was very special: four nights of carols to the four corners of the community, and a full church for a candlelit service on Christmas Eve.

Ecumenism, a lifelong commitment of mine, takes some working at in small, traditional communities; but Graham and I exchanged pulpits, and chapel and church mixed fairly easily. Giving for Christian Aid and the RNLI was very generous.

Graham was an artist who painted abstract, geometrical canvases in strong acrylics, occasionally doing figurative work inspired by Sark’s rugged landscape. My favourite of his was a self-portrait, the face in the same strong colours that filled the canvas. It hung somewhere on the island, at the back of the Mermaid perhaps. Graham eschewed the vicarage and lived in his studio, like me a married man living alone. Although Graham and I spent a lot of time in each other’s company, we were not especially close. I hardly knew his children, Eloise and her brother, and met his wife, Sue, just the once — one Friday night in the Bel Air. She had a parent and her work which kept her in Guernsey.

Naturally, the loss of a limb hit Graham hard; but the birth of a grandchild brought him joy and encouragement. Thank God for those who made his lot easier in the past twenty years. I am so glad that he got back to his painting.

Graham spoke at my farewell in the chapel. His speech was clever, ironic, witty, and humorous, which showed how well he knew me. It was a wonderful tribute.

We were chatting on the roadside one day, when an islander cycled past. “Oh, look,” he said, “a pair of collared doves!” Thank you, Graham.

God rest his soul.

The Revd Graham Leworthy died on 21 November 2022, aged 75.