Canon John Pinder writes:
THE Ven. Malcolm Lesiter was a much loved priest who served nearly all his ministry in the St Albans diocese.
I first met him when I was a student at Cuddesdon. He came to tell us of his early experiences as a curate, and his enthusiasm was infectious. After serving his title in Portsmouth, he became Team Vicar of Highfield, in Hemel Hempstead.
In 1973, he was appointed Vicar of All Saints’, Leavesden, a large suburban parish, north of Watford, where he remained for 15 years. He trained many curates who went on to become distinguished priests. He was particularly keen on youth work and was very much involved with the local schools.
He valued visiting and pastoral work highly and was very supportive of the local LGBTQ community. Two of his curates were gay. Malcolm sensitively helped the parish to accept Michael Harding, who became very popular, especially with the young. It was a great tragedy when he was killed in a motorbike accident. Malcolm also welcomed Jim Cotter as a curate when he lost his post as chaplain to a Cambridge college.
Malcolm was a good trainer of curates. He taught us a lot, and we learnt how to and, occasionally, how not to accept his wisdom and advice. He was a fine parish priest. He always showed leadership and vision, two attributes for any young priest to learn. He was generous to a fault, and was forgiving of our shortcomings and failures.
Malcolm always had a keen sense of justice. He strongly opposed differentials in clergy pay and pensions. He believed in equality of opportunity for all, particularly in terms of support for those who struggled financially.
He took great pride in his family and dearly loved his wife, Caroline, and his four daughters and their families.
Malcolm was interested in several sports, especially football. As a youngster, he would cycle from his home in Aldershot to watch Portsmouth. Later, he was an enthusiastic Watford supporter.
He was always a keen cyclist, and inspired many cycling challenges and youth trips, including regular visits to the diocesan youth centre at Chellington throughout the 1980s. In later years, he championed the restoration of the derelict church at Chellington and passionately supported its transformation into the modern and vibrant youth centre that it is today.
Although he was offered preferment or more fashionable parishes, he was very reluctant to leave Leavesden, but, eventually, he was persuaded to move to Radlett. It was a relatively short stay, because, five years later, he was appointed Archdeacon of Bedford. His bishop, Christopher Herbert, has written very warmly of his appreciation of Malcolm as a colleague in the senior team, always valuing his counsel and wisdom.
Among his many interests, Malcolm was a strong Russophile, having learnt Russian when he undertook his national service. He spent a sabbatical in Russia, studying the Orthodox Church. He was devastated when Russia invaded Ukraine, but he still maintained his contacts with his Russian friends.
Malcolm died peacefully at home in Colchester on 20 November, after a long illness, surrounded by Caroline and his four daughters, Catherine, Sarah, Rachel, and Marion.
