VICAR BECOMES CURATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

VICAR BECOMES CURATE.

£280 A YEAR SACRIFICE.

The Jtev. Father R. Wilson, vicar of St. Augustine's, Stepney, has resigned tho living, and will become junior curate to the new vicar, Rev. A. F. Asher, who was appointed curate in 1893, and was senior assistant priest under Father Wilson. The new curate, who is 66 years of age, £ave the reason of his action, which is probably without precedent in the Church.

"I think it is the sensible thing to do>," ho said. "I don't believe in sticking (to the parish until tho people refer to their parson as the 'old vicar. It is far better to change horses before thoy get too old and overworked, and to chango the vicar while the church is going strong and brimming with life. "It is not usually considered Bporting for a vicar to stay on in tho same parish after tho succession of a new priest to the living, but in my case Father Asher refused to accept tha appointment if I did not stay on to help him." < When St. Augustine's Church was an mfant ox five years, and, with about that" number as its congregation, Mr. -Wilson came as carat© with his brother, tho Rev. Harry Wilson. After 18 years ho was appointed vicar, and has held that post since 1902. Ho is well known as tho Hoppers Parson," and is loved as much by the Jews of Stepney as by his own parishioners. Father Wilson founded the three famous houses in connection with tho church known as Redhouse, Whitehouse, and Bluehouso. As curate he forfeits a sal/try of £260 a year, and will receive a small pension and grant, with apartments at the vicarage.