My vicar, Rev. Canon Rachel Taylor, once said to me ‘are you a cradle Anglican Ken?’, well I suppose that I am. My mother used to take my three siblings and me to St. Philip’s Church, Worcester Park, each Sunday, dad was in hospital with TB. The congregation would keep the front pew free for the Doveys. I used to love the colour of the vestments and the altar frontal and the smell of the incense in church. When I was about six I was asked if I would like to be a boat boy and so began my service in the Church. As I grew older I progressed up the ranks of servers, became a Sunday school teacher, sacristan and became a member of the PCC. But I wanted to be a priest!
My siblings ‘drifted’ away from church but I continued and was supported by the congregation, I thought I could feel the hand of God. I met my future wife at a dance hall and she told me she was a church going christian, again I felt the hand of God. She went to Holy Cross Church, Motspur Park, a church I had never heard of, a few years later we were married there and we have been worshipping there ever since. After a couple of years of not being involved a churchwarden said “It’s about time you were on the PCC” and have been so on and off ever since.
I applied for a selection conference to determine whether I was suitable to become a priest, I was turned down and was very angry with God, it was many years later that I discovered that God had other ideas for me. The vicar at the time suggested that I train as a Reader, which I did. It was very hard work having a full time job, a young son, a wife and home to care for and two lectures a week and homework. The end of course exams took place on a Saturday morning in a school and I had to ask the caretaker for the school telephone number so that my wife could call if she went into labour with our second son, he arrived soon after.
I was admitted to the Office of Reader in the Church by Bishop Mervyn Stockwood on 29 September 1975 and given permission to officiate in Southwark Diocese.
I have enjoyed working alongside the clergy of Holy Cross over the past fifty years. I have had to tell some of them off for sending emails on their day off and at nearly midnight and for working to many hours! I felt that as a Reader I really needed to support our clergy.
As a Reader I have really enjoyed, through preaching and teaching, to share my faith and the love of Jesus Christ with our congregation and I enjoy taking Holy Communion to the sick and house bound and hope and prayer is that God will support me on this journey for more years to come.
From left to right – John Barrow, Elaine Miller, Bishop Martin, Canon Rachel Taylor (the vicar), Ken Dovey, Clare Dowding the Diocesan Warden of Readers and Anne Cocking the Associate Priest at Holy Cross.
On Holy Cross Day, 14 September, Bishop Martin came to celebrate and preach at our parish Eucharist. It was a wonderful day to come because we were able to celebrate ninety years of Reader ministry at Holy Cross. John Barrow and Elaine Miller had served twenty years each and I had served fifty years. The Warden of Readers, Clare Dowding, presented each of us with our certificate of service and Canon Rachel presented each of us with a gift from the congregation. Rachel then asked John and Elaine to sit down and my heart sank. I said to myself “Oh no!” And then Bishop Martin, on behalf of Bishop Christopher, presented me with the Lancelot Andrewes Medal, I was shocked, surprised and honoured to be given such an award. After the service there was cake and prosecco!
I thank God for the support of my wife and family and for the wonderful people of Holy Cross Church, may God bless us all as we try to serve him with love and joy in our hearts.
