The Rt Revd Dr David Tustin writes:
THE Ven. Roderick Wells read theology at Durham, and, after further studies at Cuddesdon and Bangalore, in South India, was ordained deacon in 1965. He served a curacy at St Mary-at-Lambeth (now redundant), near the gates of Lambeth Palace. When his incumbent, Oliver Fiennes, left to become Dean of Lincoln, Roderick continued as Priest-in-Charge until 1971, before following him to Lincoln diocese, and ministering there for the next 30 years.
For seven years, Roderick guided the seaside benefice of Skegness through significant change with firmness and pastoral skill. In 1978, Bishop Simon Phipps appointed him to lead the West Grimsby Team Ministry, based at Little Coates, where he spent 11 years.
He proved to be an effective team player who could lead without dominating and gave his colleagues ample scope to contribute their own talents. He keenly supported women’s ordained ministry, and put much time and effort into preparing young couples for married life, not simply for their wedding.
During this period, he obtained a Master’s degree from Hull for postgraduate studies under Geoffrey Sturman on the Church’s relationship with industrial society.
From 1983 till 1989, he served as Rural Dean of Grimsby and Cleethorpes, the most heavily populated conurbation of the diocese, and became an Honorary Canon of Lincoln Cathedral from 1986.
In 1989, Bishop Bob Hardy appointed him Archdeacon of Stow, giving him the part-time charge of the Hackthorn Group of three rural parishes. In 1993, as part of wider pastoral reorganisation, he became full-time Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey, covering the northern half of the diocese. At that time, this area contained 140 benefices and 380 churches, mostly listed buildings — a great number to oversee.
He worked closely and harmoniously with me as the area suffragan, and I came to appreciate his caring and perceptive ministry, especially his diligence in visiting clergy families where there was sickness or trouble. I recall the patient way in which he reconciled warring factions within one PCC. He was warm-hearted and sociable, and yet could hold his ground without standing on his dignity.
He became a valued member of the Bishop’s senior staff and carried some responsibilities extending through the whole diocese. For ten years, he chaired the Diocesan Board of Education during a difficult period of re-structuring. In partnership with Simon Payne of Lincolnshire Social Services, he pioneered safeguarding training for clergy by making imaginative use of role-play and group discussion rather than lectures, before national church resources existed.
Roderick was happily married to Alice, who survives him, as do their three children — Tim, Juliet, and Rebecca. He greatly treasured family life and gave it a high priority. In retirement, he and Alice moved to Oakham, and they made a wide circle of friends. He played the piano and organ, and loved games — cricket, golf, bridge, and three-dimensional scrabble. He had an open and enquiring mind, and a particular interest in modern music, geology, gardening, and painting, the last of which brought him solace in his final years. He kept active until his mid-eighties and knew how to enjoy life’s good things without self-indulgence.
For more than five years, his survival depended on renal dialysis three times a week and, after eventually becoming frail and confused, he received good residential care. He will long be remembered with affection and respect, especially in Lincoln diocese, to which he gave so much during three decades of pastoral ministry.
The Ven. R. J. Wells died on 10 December, aged 89.
