Deacon Anthony Clark was honoured at the London Borough of Barnet Civic Awards 2023 for Outstanding Service to the Community. Nominated by the Barnet Multi Faith Forum, he was recognised for ‘his dedication and commitment to the Barnet Borough community providing support and guidance to many individuals and organisations’. He shares his story:
I have been very involved with the Barnet Multi Faith Forum for over 15 years, helping to promote interfaith cooperation among the faith communities of Barnet. We are the link with the Borough of Barnet on faith matters.
I played a particular role liaising with the both the Borough and Barnet Public Health during the pandemic, as well as advising on End of Life arrangements.
I was also put forward for my work as a volunteer chaplain at the Royal Free Hospital. When I retired from the Diocesan Education Service I did a Foundation Degree in Hospital Chaplaincy at St Mary’s under the leadership of Fr Peter Scott. Since then I have visited both Catholic patients and others who wanted support on the wards either one or two days a week. Our multifaith chaplaincy team works well together and is a model of what such interfaith relationships can be.
I was especially glad to receive the award from the Mayor of Barnet, Alison Moore, as we are fellow governors of the Royal Free Hospital Trust.
Along with being the deacon at St Edwards Golders Green, the Cardinal had asked me to take over the role of Director of Deacons for the Diocese. It involved advertising the diaconate, helping select men who came forward, being on the group organising their three-year training and happily telling the Bishop at their ordination that they are suitable and prepared. I retired from the role a couple of years ago but my final contribution was to organise the deacons’ pilgrimage/retreat to Lisieux in 2022.
I was touched to receive the award. I felt that it was a sign from the Lord that I had reached out in a small way to our wider society, an important aspect of the diaconate vocation. Deserve it I don’t, Rejoice in it I do.
Photo: Deacon Anthony Clark receiving the award from Mayor of Barnet Alison Moore (Barnet Multi Faith Forum via Facebook)
