In December, the RE Steering Group met with Rev David Cloake who is the new vicar at St Mary with St Alban. We wrote questions to ask him and then interviewed him when he visited. Here is what we found out:
If you weren’t a priest, what would you be? Father David told us that he was in business and was good at it but he didn’t enjoy it. He said that he will always be a priest but that he would be a teacher if he wasn’t a vicar because it’s the part of his job that he enjoys the most.
Why did you become a priest? Father David said that he had a ‘calling’ and this was something that he felt God wanted him to do.
How long have you been a priest? 16 years
Where did you work before you came to SMSP? He was a vicar in Whitton for 12 years before coming to Teddington. Before that, he was a curate at a church in Buckinghamshire.
What do you do as a priest? At the moment Father David is very busy. He runs the parish which involves organising volunteers, baptising people, marrying couples, taking funerals, leading services, coming into school, meeting the council and MPS. He attends lots of meetings and has lots of paperwork.
What’s your favourite Bible story? This was a difficult question for Father David because there are lots of Bible stories that he likes! He particularly likes the Easter story.
When did you start believing in God? Father David doesn’t remember a time that he didn’t believe in God. His family didn’t go to church but when he was about 4 years old, he said that he wanted to go and so his parents took him. He was baptised when he was 6. There have been lots of moments that he has said ‘yes’ to God.
If Jesus was alive what would you say to him? He told us that he would want to know what Jesus thought of the world today. He would also would like to ask him some tips about being a vicar!
What do you do in your free time? He makes sure that he spends time with his children and his wife. He does lots of walking often with his dog Doozer. He likes gliding, gaming on the iPad, gardening and loves cooking. He has a day off on Friday.
Do you like sport? Father David plays squash and is a qualified paragliding coach!
Do you have any children? He has 2 daughters who are 16 years old and are identical twins.
What’s your favourite food? He likes steak and kidney pie with good rich mash. He really likes meat!