Peter Coombs (1968-1975)
Peter Bertram Coombs (b 1928) arrived, with his wife Catherine and children Ian and Alison, to become the seventh Vicar of Christ Church in 1968. He succeeded his old Principal at Clifton College in Bristol (where he trained for ordination), Llewellyn Roberts.
‘Uncle Llew’, as he was known, was 79 when he retired and it was therefore quite a change for Christ Church to have a Vicar who was 40 and had a young family. Peter and Catherine Coombs are pictured below in the Vicarage garden with their children.
The wider changes in culture and age difference between Peter Coombs and his predecessor resulted in an atmosphere of greater informality at Christ Church. It was during his time that Peter Coombs successfully persuaded congregation members to begin addressing one another by their Christian names rather than using Mr, Mrs and Miss! In a letter in the Parish Magazine of October 1973, he wrote:
‘If we take our names onto our lips, we might find it that little bit easier to take His name on to them… in my estimation, a little bit more relaxed informality is just what this parish needs to show itself to the world outside (if not to ourselves) how normal and natural it is to be a follower of the most normal and natural (as well as supernatural) Man who ever lived.'
The photo below shows Peter Coombs greeting people leaving church (at the door on the south side of the narthex no longer used) in 1975.
The later career and life of Peter Coombs
After seven years as Vicar of Christ Church, Peter Coombs moved to become Archdeacon of Wandsworth (the Archdeaconry including Christ Church), a post he held until 1988 when he went on to become Archdeacon of Reigate. In 1995, at the age of 67, Peter Coombs retired. He and Catherine moved to Locks Heath near Southampton and their son Ian’s family.
Peter and Catherine remained in contact with Christ Church and returned in 1996 for the 50th anniversary of Women’s Own.
Peter and Catherine again visited Christ Church in 2010 when they were guests for a special lunch held in their honour. Peter preached at the 11 o'clock service, beginning his sermon by saying that if, as the Scriptures say, a thousand years are as one day to the Lord, he had only been away for about twenty minutes! You can listen to the sermon he gave below:
Catherine sadly died a few months before our 150th Anniversary in 2016 following a serious fall, but we were delighted to be able to welcome back Peter for our celebration. Peter is pictured below with Sheila Short, widow of his successor at Christ Church John Short, cutting a cake made in the form of the original church from 1866.
On his 90th birthday on 30th September 2018, Peter Coombs was delighted to receive a card from Christ Church, New Malden sent with gratitude for all that he gave to the church. He replied saying there was an audible gasp when he held it up at the party held for him at St John’s, Locks Heath and said that it was from the church he had left 43 years ago.
Peter died on 22nd September 2020 at the age of 91, and a bench dedicated in his memory was later placed outside the new halls.
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Llewellyn Roberts | Building CCNM 1968-75 | John Short |  |
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