Vicar who raised thousands for hospital to retire

The rector of a Jersey parish who led it in restoring a hospital in Kenya and its own hurricane-hit church is retiring after 27 years.

The Reverend Canon David Shaw, who was awarded an MBE for his work for Kenya, was leaving his post as the Rector of St Clement with St Nicholas at the end of May, the Jersey Deanery said.

He moved to Jersey from Gloucestershire, first as priest in charge, before becoming rector in 1998.

His work saw parishioners raise £500,000 to restore a hospital near Malindi in Kenya and 50 people being involved in painting, cleaning and putting in new equipment.

They also opened St Clement's Church School there for 300 children and provided daily porridge so children did not go to school hungry, and a water dam.

In November 2023, St Nicholas Church at Grève d'Azette was damaged by a tornado which blew in one of the windows and sent it 30ft (9.1m) across the church.

The pressure lifted the roof six inches and sent tiles flying, and Rev Canon Shaw went up a ladder to help remove dislodged debris.

He said: "We had already done work in St Nicholas 20 years ago. We had put in hall space and a kitchen, then along comes the tornado and we had to restore it.

"The congregation kept going with buckets and we were lit by candles."

St Clement's churchyard is the first natural churchyard in Jersey.

Rev Canon Shaw said it meant the church was one of four on the island which stayed open when restrictions were in place during the Covid-19 pandemic by holding services outdoors in the meadow.

He said: "We were outdoors in the meadow for about 12 weeks. It was in the sunshine, with birds tweeting, lots of distancing and everyone enjoyed it."

The 63-year-old advised his successor to "get to know people and find out what makes Jersey tick".

He added that he planned to do DIY in his new home in Jersey after he retired and catch up with friends in England.

The Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend Mike Keirle, said: "He will be greatly missed but he is retiring to the island.

"We wish him every blessing as he looks ahead to a new stage of life."

The church was planning a formal send off-later in the year, he said.

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