THE funeral of the Reverend Stan Marriott, MA AKC, who died in January in his 86th year, was held in a crowded All Saints’ Church, Wootton Courtenay on Tuesday (February 1).

The Right Revd. Dr Brian Castle officiated, assisted by the Revd Caroline Ralph, Rector, and the Revd Barry Priory, formerly Rector of Porlock, and led an address and appreciation, shared in part with Sir Roger Carrick.

Claire Clark MBE FCGI MCA read from Ecclesiasticus. Marcus Capel and a Choir performed music, which the Revd Marriott and his wife Joan had chosen: Benedictus from The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins, Samuel Wesley’s anthem Lead me, Lord, and Pié Jesu from Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem. Soloists were Daphne Midwood and Jackie Butterworth.

Joan and Stan Marriott retired to Wootton Courtenay some 25 years ago. Stan was always much in demand as priest, counsellor and friend. Joan and Stan loved Exmoor and made lasting impressions and many friends.

Stan continued parish and pastoral work until shortly before he died, and preached right across Exmoor. His fine sense of humour, his deep understanding and empathy, and his enduring social conscience were highly valued. His skill and success as a gardener were widely admired.

Having trained for the Ministry at King’s College, London, and St Augustine’s, Canterbury, Stan Marriott worked in a number of parishes in England, and spent some years fundraising for the Church of England Children’s Society.

He made a deeply appreciated and memorable mark across the country; and will be greatly missed by many. The Reverend Stan Marriott was laid to rest in All Saints’ churchyard, as Bishop Brian Castle put it, in the soil he loved.

Claire Clark, Stan’s god-daughter and widely considered to be the UK’s leading female pastry chef, provided a sumptuous afternoon tea buffet in Wootton Courtenay’s Village Hall for all those who attended the funeral to enjoy reminiscing about and to salute Stan.

C J Rufus