Revd. Canon Harold Frederick Goddard

Records

Brosgrove Advertiser; 12th June, 1980.
Local vicar, Rev. Harold Goddard, was moving to London to give comfort to patients as chaplain of a major cancer hospital. Rev. Goddard had lived in Stoke Prior for more than four years and had been vicar to the United Benefice of the parishes of St Michael's, Stoke Prior; St Mary de Wyche, Wychbold and S.t Michael's, Upton Warren, for the past three years. He was going to work in the Royal Marsden Hospital at the beginning of September where he would be involved with 400 patients and 1,600 staff.

Retirement
A LONG serving Canon has stepped down after eight "enjoyable" years serving at four Kidderminster churches.
Rev Canon Harold Goddard has retired as team rector of the Kidderminster West Team Ministry, which covers St John the Baptist Church, Holy Innocents Church, St Peters Church, in Birchen Coppice and St John's Church, in Habberley.
As well as Kidderminster, Mr Goddard served as a vicar for 42 years in parishes in Portsmouth, Stoke Prior and Martley. He has also served as chaplain to various hospitals and hospices.
The 66-year-old, who will be retiring to Great Malvern, has enjoyed many celebrations in the team ministry, such as the 70th anniversary of Holy Innocents Church and the centenary of the rebuilding ot St John's church.
Mr Goddard, who was appointed rector of the Kidderminster West Team Ministry by the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: "It's been 42 years hard work. I'm going to take some time off to start with. I have been very busy in the last eight years and I just want a rest. I will help out when needed.
The 66-year-old, who will be retiring to Great Malvern, has enjoyed many celebrations in the team ministry, such as the 70th anniversary of Holy Innocents Church and the centenary of the rebuilding ot St John's church.
Mr Goddard, who was appointed rector of the Kidderminster West Team Ministry by the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: "It's been 42 years hard work. I'm going to take some time off to start with. I have been very busy in the last eight years and I just want a rest. I will help out when needed.
In 2003, the Bishop of Worcester appointed him as Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral. He is now Canon Emeritus, after his retirement.
"I aim to get on with people and to fit in," Mr Goddard said. "I shall miss a lot of people in Kidderminster. They have been very kind to me."
Mr Goddard has been given a permanent reminder of his work, in the form of a painting of himself standing in front of the alter at Holy Innocents Church.
He celebrated his retirement with a party at Holy Innocents' Community Hall.

DEATH EVENTS

Published on 23rd June, 2022 - Kidderminster Shuttle
Revd. Canon Harold Frederick Goddard
GODDARD Revd. Canon Harold Frederick Peacefully, at home, on 31st May 2022, aged 79 years. Much loved Father to Naomi, Peter and Abi, Grandad God to his five grandchildren and friend to many. He will be greatly missed. Private committal. Thanksgiving Service at Worcester Cathedral on Friday 8th July, at 2p.m.

Revd. Canon Harold Frederick Goddard

St. Mary Magdalene, Broadwas, Worcestershire.

Noticed in the Worcester Diocesan News for October 1990.
"The Rev. Harold Goddard, Rector of Martley and Wichenford, knightwick and Doddenham, Broadwas and Cotheridge is resigning on November 30th but continuing as Rural Dean of Worcester Wes Deanery until the end of the year." Elsewhere in the News he is shown as being a tireless worker for the S.P.C.K. How many other rectors can either boast, or regret, having so many parishes?

Church Times - 19th June, 2015; the following appointment: "GODDARD. The Revd Harold Goddard, formerly Team Rector in the Kidderminster Team Ministry, and Hon. Canon of Worcester Cathedral, now Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) of Christ Church, Great Malvern (Worcester)."
Harold is a former member of the Association.

Honorary Curate of Christ Church in Malvern, where he led the church after his retirement, Harold served in the Diocese of Worcester since 1976. He was vicar of a number of different churches during that time as well as being Rural Dean of Martley and Worcester West and Evesham. For some years he was a member of the DAC and for part of his time its Vice-Chair.

Harold was also Chaplain to St Richards Hospice and Worcestershire Community Healthcare Trust, was an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral and in retirement was Chaplain to the Mothers' Union.