WHEN Canon Nick Bell retires from St Mary’s next month after 20 years as Luton’s Anglican leader, he’ll leave with a wealth of happy memories and a considerable list of achievements.
“We were a totally white congregation when I came in 1991,” he recalled. “Now I rejoice that the whole world is on our doorstep.
“I shall miss the diversity, colour and richness of Luton society.
“But it’s time for new opportunities – not only for me but for the church here too.”
Nick, 64, came to Luton with a vision to make St Mary’s ‘a beacon for Christ.’ Today more than 300 worshippers attend Sunday services, putting it in the top one percent in the country.
The Oxford-born vicar wanted to be a vet but couldn’t get into university so settled for studying zoology at Durham.
“People at home said I shouldn’t spend my life with animals, I should help people instead,” he said.
“So I cut a deal with God. Midway through my degree I went to a selection conference for the priesthood.
“I’d just read a couple of books and was totally unprepared but they said ‘Come on in.’
“I worked in Canning Town with my childhood cricket hero, David Sheppard, who became Bishop of Liverpool.
“He was very forthright, very focused and championed the working class.”
Nick went to theological college in Nottingham and worked in Oldham and Bricket Wood before coming to Luton.
The charismatic cleric said: “I was immensely fortunate. My predecessors did an amazing job.
“But Christianity was in a consulting phase. I got my hands dirty and took the gospel out of the building and into the community.
“I had a vision for street pastors.” He was involved in the Just 10 Mission which brought 64 local churches together under the banner of transforming Luton, and was also instrumental in setting up Luton Town Central Chaplaincy.
Nick has seen enormous changes during his incumbency. “I remember our first Asian mayor, Mick Guma. We were very suspicious of each other at first but we became the closest friends.” He added: “Hopefully I’ve been able to lead the church into meeting the changing needs of our community.
“It was a great opportunity but also a great responsibility to maintain integrity and authenticity in my life.”
Nick said it had been a huge privilege working at St Mary’s: “It has been hallowed by prayer for more than a thousand years. People have worshipped on this site since Morcar the Saxon in 1042.”
He is moving to a cottage in Norfolk with his wife Hilary, an educational consultant who retires two days before he does on December 18. The couple have three children and three grandchildren.
> St Mary’s is holding a farewell reception for their much-loved vicar at 6.30pm on Sunday, November 20 to which everyone is invited. His final ceremony will be the carol service on December 18.