Tributes paid to people-loving vicar from Felixstowe

Richard Norman Theobald Moore was born in Woodbridge on December 27, 1939, the only child of parents Norman and Joan Moore, nee Theobald.

When the Second World War came to an end, the young Richard was sent to St Edmund’s prep school, now home to Milsoms restaurant in Kesgrave. 

In his later years, Richard’s sons took him there for a surprise birthday meal – and learned that they were dining in the very room where Richard had once studied, conjugating Latin verbs.  

Richard excelled at school, and was one of the top children in the county when he took his 11-plus exam, winning a scholarship to Perse school in Cambridge. 

Richard pictured with his wife, Joy. Image: Family of Richard Moore (Image: Family of Richard Moore)

At age 17, Richard was on a summer holiday with his parents in Ilfracombe, when he went out one evening looking for girls. He was soon found by a group of young Baptists, who were on holiday with their pastor. 

It was after this meeting that Richard’s relationship with God deepened. He startled his parents when he returned to the guest house and knelt by his bed to pray – his mother was reputed to have said ”Stop him, Norman!” 

Undaunted, Richard returned to school witnessing to all his friends. 

Following school, he obtained an apprenticeship with BP to tudy a Bachelor of Science in oil engineering at Queen’s College Dundee, then part of St Andrew’s University. 

One summer, Richard went with the Christian Union went to assist the churches of Cowdenbeath, then the UK’s only communist constituency.  

This was how he came to meet Joy, a fourth year medical student and the woman who was to become his wife. 

The pair tied the knot in 1963. 

Reverend Moore was devoted to his faith. Image: Family of Richard Moore (Image: Family of Richard Moore)

Richard Moore leading his daughter-in-law, Mignonette, into her wedding service. Image: Family of Richard Moore (Image: Family of Richard Moore)

Richard graduated in 1962, and spent a year working at BP head office in London. The company hoped to send Richard to Abu Dhabi, but he felt called to enter the Church of England.  

Richard was ordained at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral three years later, and served his first curacy in Stowmarket. 

He was next stationed as a senior curate at St Barnabus church in Leicester, before becoming the vicar of The Martyrs Church, an inner-city parish of 15,000. 

"Richard loved people,” said Joy. “He was outgoing, hard-working and full of ideas.” 

In 1966, the couple’s first son, Andrew, was born. Timothy followed in 1968 and Peter arrived in 1972.  

Richard finally left Leicester after 18 years, and became a chaplain to mental health hospitals in Epsom. 

However, after 22 years, it was finally time to retire, and Joy and Richard settled in Felixstowe. 

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Shortly after the move, they were invited to the Diocese of Dornakal in South India. Through a group-in Ashtead, they had helped to raise funds to re-roof the cathedral school. 

When they arrived, they saw that the bishop had put up a plaque to ‘The Rev Canon Richard and Mrs Dr Moore.”  

When Richard pointed out that he was not a canon, the bishop replied: “I have made you a canon of my cathedral.”

Richard continued to work in the church as a locum for the Diocese of Europe. His faith took him around the world, including Warsaw, Fuengirola, Sicily and Arnhem and Nijmegen in Holland. 

Richard pictured with a soldier in Poland. Image: Family of Richard Moore (Image: Family of Richard Moore)

In 2013, Richard and Joy were thrilled to welcome their first granddaughter, MJ (Mignonette Joy). Richard loved being a grandfather, and soon built a swing in the couple’s garden.

To MJ’s delight, a door to a fairy house mysteriously appeared over a hole in a tree trunk at Cranmer Cliff Gardens. The fairy door has since become a source of wonder to many children in Felixstowe. 

Reverend Canon Richard Norman Theobald Moore died on April 10, aged 83. 

A funeral arranged by David Button Independent Funeral Directors will take place on May 10 at St Peter and St Paul's Church, Felixstowe.