Reverend Stephen Tucker

A VICAR known for his love of art, music and theatre who made a lasting impact on his Hampstead congregation has passed away.

Reverend Stephen Tucker was the vicar at St John-at-Hampstead from 2001 to 2016.

He passed away at the end of June following a short illness, aged 75.

Born on March 13, 1951, Reverend Tucker completed his undergraduate and post graduate studies at New College, Oxford. It was there that he was “converted by the music”, after attending Evensong sung by the college’s renowned choir.

He returned to New College as Dean of Divinity between 1990 and 1995 where he served as chaplain to the college.

Taking his passion for the arts with him to St John-at-Hampstead, Reverend Tucker was heavily involved in promoting the arts in the church, holding exhibitions and concerts during his time as the vicar there.

He played the flute, loved jazz music and used his acting skills to bring his puppet parrot Mr Beaky to act out sermons to children during Harvest festival.

Andrew Penny, reader at St John-at-Hampstead, said: “While he wasn’t a very practical man —unblocking sinks was not his skill set — he was very involved in the events of the parish, was very keen on music and was quite the actor.

“People liked him a lot — he got on very well with teenagers in the congregation, and students.”

A keen thespian, Reverend Tucker was a member of the Hampstead Players, an acting group based at the Church Row parish, where he wowed the crowds with his performances as the undertaker in Oliver and a Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof back in 2011.

David Gardner, leading actor and director of the Hampstead Players, said: “He was very much culturally involved and a wonderful man. I was really hoping he would be here for our 50th anniversary of the Players. He was involved in the group from almost the very beginning and led a reading of Amadeus which we toured in the local area.

“He was a wonderful vicar in the community and will be missed.”

Churchwarden at St John-at-Hampstead Angela Gardner added: “He was great with all ages, was sensitive and thoughtful.

“He was not gregarious, but he had a dry sense of humour. Being a vicar you are there for some of the most joyful and challenging times of people’s lives and we can speak about that personally. He was always very kind, he was there when we were married and he baptised our children, but also when we had bereavements he was there for us as well.”

Reverend Tucker was also a governor at Hampstead Parochial School and a trustee of the Hampstead and Highgate Festival, which was another expression of his artistic passions.

Living in the vicarage next to the church, he enjoyed entertaining at the house and hosting parties in the garden during the summer.

Having been in ill health for much of his life due to an illness he suffered as a child, he retired from St John-at-Hampstead and moved to Salisbury for the fresh air, where he could also be closer to his sister Claire and his two nephews.

Reverend Tucker helped at Salisbury Cathedral once he moved to the area, but would often revisit his old community in Hampstead.

Cllr Linda Chung said: “We in Hampstead missed Stephen terribly when he retired but made him promise to come back and visit us whenever he could.

“What made him really memorable was his love of music and the dramatic arts. He made our beautiful parish church a notable centre for those activities.

“Thank you, Stephen, for everything you did. Your legacy lives on.”