In the same service The Revd Dr Quentin Wilson half-time Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s, Old Malton, and Associate Priest of St Michael’s, New Malton and the Revd Peter Bowes, halftime Priest-in-Charge of St Michael’s, New Malton, Associate Priest of St Mary’s, Old Malton and Rural Dean of Southern Ryedale were also both licensed as Associate Priests in the Wolds Valley.

Left to Right: Michael Stallybrass, The Revd Quentin Wilson, Fr Tim Bywater, Archbishop of York, The Revd Peter Bowes, Lyn Morris and The Revd Ian Robinson

The Revd Dr Quentin Wilson was licensed as half-time Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s, Old Malton, and non-stipendiary Assistant Curate of St Michael’s, New Malton. At the same service, the Revd Peter Bowes, half-time Priest-in-Charge of St Michael’s, New Malton, was licensed as non-stipendiary Assistant Curate of St Mary’s, Old Malton.

The Revd Dr Quentin Wilson, also Rural Dean of Southern Ryedale said, “This was a most unusual service – I’ve never heard of two priests being licensed to assist at each others’ parishes in the same service! Peter and I already work closely to serve our communities in Old and New Malton, and we hope that this will give greater momentum to collaborative ministry here. Peter and I will soon be helped by Ian Robinson, who is being ordained Deacon at York Minster on 27th June to serve his
title in both Old and New Malton, so there’ll soon be three of us working across the two parishes.

Further information and photgraphs here

There was a thanksgiving service for the completion of the reordering of the building and restoration of the organ on 11 July 2010. Vivaldi’s Gloria was sung during the service by an enhanced choir. The first recital on the restored organ was given by Dr Francis Jackson on Saturday 25 September 2010.

NICHOLAS (Nick) Newman Jones, who has died at the age of 55, was Vicar of St Michael’s, Malton, Rural Dean of the new Deanery of Southern Ryedale, and a Canon of York Minister. He was born in Leeds, his father Paul being a churchwarden and lay reader at St Chad’s Far Headingley. After early schooling in Leeds, Nick went to King William’s College in the Isle of
Man, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Nick decided he wanted to be ordained at an early age and read theology at King’s College, London, before spending a year at St Augustine’s College, Canterbury.

His entire ministry was served in the York Diocese, and after his ordination in York Minster in 1975, he became a curate at the Church of the Ascension, Hull. It was here that he met his wife Sally and they married in 1978.

His second curacy was at Stokesley near Middlesbrough, moving in 1981 to Kirby Misperton as Priest in Charge and where, two years later, he became Rector of six churches forming the new United Benefice of Kirby Misperton, Normanby, Edstone and Salton.

In 1987 he was invited to be the Vicar of Eskdaleside (or Sleights) with Ugglebarnby and Sneaton. During his time in these parishes he also served as Rural Dean of the Whitby Deanery.

In 1998 he moved for a brief spell to Hutton Buscel and Wykeham before becoming Vicar of St Michael’s, Malton in 1999 and later Rural Dean of the new Deanery of Southern Ryedale which came about from the amalgamation of the former Deaneries of Malton and Bulmer and Buckrose in 2002. More recently he was proud to become a Canon of York Minster.

There were many sides to Nick Jones: hard working parish priest and rural dean, quiet railway enthusiast, open and voluble supporter of Leeds United, a lasting enthusiast for the Isle of Man – born of his school days on the island – a loving pastor, husband and father, and the possessor of an over-riding sense of humour and fun.

He arrived at St Michael’s as the parish was about to give its annual choir concert, and immediately volunteered to take part, arriving in DJ and black tie to give a hilarious stand-up comic routine.

Before very long he let it be known that he did not at all mind being referred to as “Nick the Vic.”

One of his early exploits was to abseil down the Tower to raise funds for charity.

Nick was as ready to offer comfort in time of trouble as bring gaiety at times of celebration. A hard-working and enthusiastic leader, he was an inspirational minister, and the news, two years ago, that he had terminal cancer was greeted by his congregation with horror and dismay.

He did not appear in public many times after that but did maintain a lively interest in church and local affairs.

His ceremonial installation as a Canon at York Minster last year put a great strain on him, but he was his usual cheerful and ebullient self.

One of Nick’s proudest possessions was a cape left to him by his uncle, another Canon Jones. He was greatly amused to at last legally own both the cape and the “Canon Jones” name tape left inside by his uncle.

On another occasion, when the Deanery made a presentation of a cheque to him (all to be spent on railway books) on his resignation as Rural Dean, although now in constant pain and taking stronger and stronger pain killers, he made a graceful and witty speech to the Synod, ending with, “Well, I don’t know what you are all going to do now, but I’m going home to watch The Bill!”

Nick’s mother died when he was 16 and his father married again. Nick is survived by his wife Sally and their 22 year old son Paul, by his step-mother Mary and two step-sisters.

First published in the Yorkshire Post

An obituary for our former Vicar Canon Nick Jones can be found here and the Archbishop of York’s tribute here.