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Brother Giles has died at the age of 84 after a lifetime of committed service to his community and the Church. After National Service in the RAF he studied at Oxford University and then went on to study Theology at Kelham with the S.J. Community there. On being ordained Deacon in 1961 and Priest in 1962 he became a postulant and was noviced into the Anglican Franciscan Community, working in East London. In 1964 he studied Tropical Horticulture in Cambridge, to be of use in his future work, as priest in Koke, Paua New Guinea, for four years and later from 1983 to 1997 in the Solomon Islands.
Throughout his professed (1963) and life professed (1967) ministry, for the Church and SSF, he travelled the World taking on many of its significant and spiritual administration duties:
Novice Guardian in European province, 1969
Brother in charge at Koke, Plaistow and Alnmouth
Resident in Sweden to establish a community there, 1975
Guardian at Harbledown, Canterbury, 1977-1982
General Secretary of the Society, 1981-1983
Novice Master at Alangaula in the Solomon Islands
Provinical Secretary, Pacific Islands Province
Guardian of the Hautamber Friary, later becoming Minister Provincial of the P.I. province, 1987-1996
Little Portion, USA
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, establishing a Friary for the Community there.
Three more years of parish work in Canning Town, East London before finally returning to Hilfield, Dorset
Throughout his hardworking and long commitment to his faith and the rigours of Franciscan life, he gained experience living in other cultures and acquired the wosdom which the other brothers recognised, electing him to positions of authority and responsibility within SSF. In his retirement he reorganised and worked in the fruit and vegetable gardens, walked the full South West Coast Path and took local Church and Friary services. He was a true and faithful priest and brother, spiritual director and mentor, who has been a bright star in all our lives. Rest in peace.
Simon Sprent (Second’s 1951-1955)