Willoughby Habershon (1935-1944)

In October 1935 the Reverend Arthur Willoughby Habershon (1896-1984) arrived with his wife Mary to become the fourth Vicar of Christ Church.

The first Parish History (written by William Authers, Churchwarden 1937-1940) describes Habershon as ‘….a strict disciplinarian. He worked to plan; was rigid in principle, a teacher of orderly mind, impulsive, liable to be misunderstood, impetuous, yet deeply sorry for causing any pain. In his view, a duty done was not in need of praise: it should be its own satisfaction’. But he also added ‘His quiet dignity commanded our respect and we were conscious of him as one who had “seen a great light”’.

Mr Habershon to the congregation, he was called Willoughby by those close to him.

A sign of Mr Habershon’s conviction was his insistence on kneeling with the Churchwardens for prayer before every service, seeing this as essential preliminary ‘for worship and the conduct of ourselves in the House of Prayer’. The strength of Willoughby Habershon’s convictions and leadership was also seen in his commitment to pastoral care. He would call very immediately on people when there was sickness or other troubles and showed immense sympathy and support during the years of the war. The strain of this contributed to the very poor health that he suffered at points.

Arthur's son, Kenneth Habershon, ran a CYFA camp at Limpsfield for many years. This had a big impact on our current vicar, Stephen Kuhrt, who first went on the camp in 1984.

The resignation of Willoughby Haberschon

In 1944, after nine years in post, Willoughby Habershon departed from Christ Church, New Malden to become Vicar of Christ Church, Chislehurst, where he served until 1953. From 1953-1966 he served his last incumbency at Holy Trinity, Tunbridge Wells. After retirement Willoughby and his wife Mary lived in Watford. Willoughby Habershon died, aged 88, on 30th April 1984. Mary Habershon lived on until 2000 when she died at the age of 99.

	Alvan Birkett	Building CCNM 1935-44	Claude Bartle