Fr Gresham Kirkby was the vicar of St Paul's, Bow Common, a church in east London, for over 40 years until his retirement in 1994. I first went there around 1991, and so I only knew him in his later years. He died in 2006 aged 89 years. Vicarage Life I was also a lodger in Fr Gresham's vicarage. I can picture him from that time, seated on a wooden chair in the living room during the day with the Bible open in his hands. He thought we should read the Scriptures more. He hardly watched television; a small black & white set was stowed away somewhere: you had to bring it out and plug it in if you wanted to watch something. And he didn't get a daily newspaper; only the Observer on a Sunday. Nor did Fr Gresham listen to the radio. There wasn't one in the vicarage, so when the women's ordination debate was to be broadcast live, a 'music centre' was brought in from the jumble sale stock in the church hall and tuned in to the correct station. But he hadn't requested this; nor did he make a fuss when it appeared. He did settle down to follow the proceedings, though. I remember a significant anniversary (perhaps the 50th) of Fr Gresham's ordination when other priests were around to celebrate mass with the bishop at St Paul's, Bow Common. I happened to be in the vicarage living room, together with one of the other priests, when Fr Gresham made a joking remark, related to the preparations going on, that relied on an Old Testament reference. I understood that much, but I didn't get it. The other clergyman was wanting to go along with the jest, but I didn't think he got it either. But Fr Gresham was in a good humour; it didn't matter
Sunday mass at St Paul's, Bow Common At mass Fr Gresham would give his homily in a plain, straightforward way. He didn't try to sway or lull the congregation. It seemed to me his focus was on the teaching he wanted to convey: he would sometimes direct his gaze at the ceiling as he spoke.