Frank Harris wrote [in the Church Times - 19 November 2004] :
THE Revd John Hammersley, who died on All Saints' Day, aged 70, after a long battle with cancer, gave devoted service in various fields. He always wanted to be a pioneer rather than an establishment person.
He was born in Middlesbrough. His father, Canon Harold Hammersley, was a Rector of Redcar. John went to St John's School, Leatherhead, and then to Delhousie School in Edinburgh. After reading Classics at Keble College, Oxford, he trained for the ministry at Westcott House. He was ordained in Sheffield to a title at St Swithun's, where he served from 1960 to 1967. At this time, he began to work in religious broadcasting through BBC Radio Sheffield. It came naturally to him, and his frequent broadcasts were widely appreciated.
In 1967 he began a long association with Parish and People. He succeeded Canon Eric James as its executive secretary, and worked closely with the late Canon Peter Croft to address developments in team ministry, synodical government, and church unity.
In 1970 he worked with several others to merge renewal movements of the mainstream Churches into ONE for Christian Renewal. Parish and People continued as a sub-group, and developed a deanery resource unit. The rural deaneries constituted an area of church government that John thought much neglected.
John then moved to Lincoln with Margery, a teacher whom he had married in 1964, and their two children, Mark and Sue. He continued to develop his ideas for team ministry as Priest-in-Charge of St Mary-le-Wigford with St Benedict. In 1978 they moved to Tettenhall Regis where he became a Team Vicar, and in 1981 a Prebendary of Lichfield.
He was now also working as religious adviser and producer to Beacon Radio, a new independent station based in Wolverhampton. His late-night broadcasts and phone-ins, enabling people to talk about their problems, often went on into the early hours. This radio ministry was much praised. In 1985 a working party was set up by the General Synod to look at team and group ministries. John, a member of it, wrote a popular guide, Working Together in Teams and Groups (1989).
In 1987 John joined the Northumbrian Industrial Mission's chaplaincy at the MetroCentre in Gateshead. John was often seen on Tyne Tees Television and heard on radio. From 1988 he served as Rural Dean of Gateshead. He lost his wife Margery to cancer in 1991.
John moved to Slough in 1994 to be a Team Vicar in Langley Marish, and director of the Thamesway Programme. Then, on a study tour of South Africa in 1995, he met Ann Cryer, who had lost her husband, the MP Bob Cryer, in a car crash. Their friendship developed, and John helped in the campaign to win her the seat as MP for Keighley. He retired to Sheffield in 2000.
In August 2001, he was rushed into hospital for an emergency appendicitis operation that became surgery for cancer. More surgery and treatment followed. Throughout it, he kept in touch with his friends, who were struck by his bravery.
His interest in the liturgical movement was furthered and he continued to produce his own 'Psalms of Life' for use in worship and conferences, and as private or group prayers. Many of his psalms he skilful gathered together in 'Every Step of the Way' (2003).
In a break between his chemotherapy sessions, John and Ann were married in the chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster in September 2003.
John continued to attend meetings of the Church House Deaneries Group, and of Parish and People, until the summer of this year, when he celebrated his 70th birthday with 70 of his closest friends and family. Although his health was worsening, he started working on a Ph.D with Birmingham University.
John died in the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford. A memorial service was held for him on 11 December 2004 at St Andrew's, Psalter Lane, Sheffield.

The Revd John Earwaker adds:
ODDLY, for one so moderate and tolerant, whose subsequent ministry was so distinguished John was asked to leave Westcott House shortly before his ordination, on the grounds that he was "upsetting the others". Fortunately, Leslie Hunter, Bishop of Sheffield came to the rescue, and decided to ordain him without any further ado. It was significant that someone whose own ordination preparation had been handled so badly should in his last job, take such care in the preparation of candidates, and be so conscientious in keeping in touch with them afterwards. He had a keen sense of humour, common sense, and a deep, unfussy spirituality.

A spellchecker queries 'Hammersley' and fittingly offers 'humorously' !

Return to Home Page