People Update – March 2026
PARISH
MOVING ON
Revd. Sam Hustwayte at present Incumbent of the Benefice of Calverton, as well as Area Dean of Gedling and Chair of the House of Clergy is to be Archdeacon of Ludlow in the Diocese of Hereford. This is a really exciting move for Sam and we’re really pleased for her (read more here). Please pray for Sam as she prepares for this new role, and for the benefice of Calverton as they prepare for a period of vacancy.
JUBILEE HOUSE
Ben Garry has joined the diocesan central support team at Jubilee House as Head of Communications and Creative within the Discipleship & Ministry Team. Ben will lead the Communications team, overseeing all communications, creative and media projects with the aim of equipping parishes throughout the diocese as they grow disciples of Christ with compassion, confidence and courage. He also supports the Bishop’s Core Team to develop and evolve external and internal communications in line with our strategic vision and mission as a diocese. Ben’s role replaces that of Interim Director of Communications, which was held by Gary Pitt until last summer.
OBITUARIES
The Rt. Revd. Harold William (Bill) Godfrey, a retired Priest living in York, died on 13th January 2026, aged 77. Bill was ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham in 1972 and Priest in 1973, serving his title post at St. Peter and St. Paul’s, Warsop with Sookholme. In 1975 he was licensed as Team Vicar of what was the Benefice of Hucknall Torkard (St. Mary Magdalene, St. Peter and St. Paul’s and St. John’s Mission Church (1975-1986)), additionally serving as the Bishop’s Ecumenical Officer between 1981-1982. In 1986 Bill was seconded to the Diocese of Uruguay where he was Priest-Archdeacon and Assistant Bishop (1986-1988) before being installed as the Bishop of Uruguay (1988-1998), and subsequently the Bishop of Peru (1998-2016), in the Anglican Church of South America. On returning to the UK in 2016, Bill served as Vicar of St. Mary, Lastingham with Appleton-le-Moors, Rosedale and Cropton in the Diocese of York until his retirement in 2020. He was made an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Leeds in 2021. Bill leaves a widow Judith and two adult children.
The Revd. Dr. David John Huggett, a retired Priest living in Dorset, died on 20th January 2026, aged 91. Following a career in aeronautical engineering and having been part of the UK Spaceflight Research Programme (1960-1965), David was ordained Deacon in 1967 and began his ministry as Curate at St. John the Evangelist, Heatherlands, Parkstone in the Diocese of Salisbury in 1967 until 1970. He then became Assistant Curate of the Holy Sepulchre, Cambridge (1970-73) and the Holy Sepulchre with All Saints’, Cambridge (1973) in the Diocese of Ely. In 1973, David moved to the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham where he was Rector of St. Nicholas, Nottingham (1973-1992). Whilst in Nottingham, David’s wife, Joyce, began writing books and became an internationally renowned author. In 1993 David moved to Cyprus where he and Joyce worked for “Interserve” for six years, where they helped pioneer and establish the practice of Member Care Ministry for Mission Partners. David died on 20th January 2026; he leaves two adult children. A memorial service will be held in mid-June for both David and Joyce in Poole, Dorset.
The Revd. Robert Andrew Whittaker, a retired Priest living in Retford, died on 21st January 2026, aged 76. Robert was ordained Deacon in 1987 and Priest in 1988 in the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. He served his curacy at St. Edmund’s, Mansfield Woodhouse from 1987 until 1990, then becoming Rector of St. Laurence, Norwell with Ossington, Cromwell and Caunton (1990-1995). Robert was the Chaplain at Ranby House School in Retford from 1995 until 2003, then moving to the Diocese of Oxford where he was the Head of Religious Studies at Bishopsgate Preparatory School, Englefield Green, Surrey (2004-2006). Robert retired in 2006; he served with Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham from 2014 until 2021. Robert died on 21st January 2026; he leaves a widow Tracy and two adult children.