Gloucester Elvis vicar has left the building
LETTERS to a Gloucester vicar will be returned to sender from now on after his decision to move away.
The Reverend Graham Osborne, the former vicar of St Catharine's church, who once dressed as Elvis for a church musical, has "left the building".
Members of the congregation said he would be missed following his "now or never" decision to return to his roots in the home counties.
Mr Osborne, 58, who was the minister at the lively church in London Road for more than nine years, has taken up the new post of vicar of Leatherhead and Mickleham.
Curate Andrew Swift said: "We will miss Graham very much.
"He was a much loved leader for the church.
"I am sure he will thrive in Surrey, and we give him our love and prayers as he goes."
Mr Osborne, came to Gloucestershire with his family in 1996 as a curate in Cirencester.
The musically gifted Osborne family moved to city when Graham became vicar of St Catharine's in 2000.
Graham was deeply involved in many aspects of life in Gloucester. He served as mayor's chaplain and school governor at several schools, including Oxstalls School then Bishops' College. He was also the area dean for the Church of England for the city.
He shot to fame in the community having dressed as Elvis for a role as the Pharoah in
Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
after he had lost 18lbs when he joined a healthy eating and exercise programme.
9 Comments
by Floodwaters Will Rise Again, Waiting With The Arc
Sunday, November 22 2009, 2:36AM
“The Puritans developed an ideal that could be attained by working and following what the bible said. However The modern American Dream is always stereotyped by money, power, and happiness. The goal that the Puritans made for today's society's Was not the American Dream that everyone might have a huge house with a white picket fence. What the Puritans were not to know is that things changed, and the people of today do not care about what people think or say about them. The Puritans had a set way of life by keeping faith, working hard, and having no failures which they tried every day to achieve. For example, the Puritans would only see things from one point of view, which is "the chosen one." In the Puritans day, if someone did not like someone no one else will, unless they were related. Those Flood Waters are soon going to Reach Biblical Proportions. ARE YOU READY”
by Colonel Willowby-Gore St. Johns, Wotton Lawn
Saturday, November 21 2009, 5:27PM
“Nice one, Our Rev. Black Grape, I can't spell or at least, even use a spell checker!!! lol Harumph! Listen to your Elbow!!!”
by Rev Richard Turk, The reddings, ,
Saturday, November 21 2009, 5:07PM
“oseph :D its joseph :D”
by Rev Richard Turk, The reddings
Saturday, November 21 2009, 5:05PM
“Colonel wally :D Bore St Snot :D you have to much time on your hand .
Wish i was like you playing on a computer ALLDAY :D :D”
by Colonel Willowby-Gore St. Johns, Wotton Lawn
Saturday, November 21 2009, 4:27PM
“Thelassa or Thelatta ? The former or the latter........”
by Colonel Willowby-Gore St. Johns, Wotton Lawn
Saturday, November 21 2009, 4:24PM
“There ought to be a comma after Simon Petros, hmn? A this is a really bad Greek pun Harumph¬¬¬”
by Colonel Willowby-Gore St. Johns, Wotton Lawn
Saturday, November 21 2009, 4:13PM
“John, I believe you are truly touched. God bless you.”
by John Doherty, Gloucester
Saturday, November 21 2009, 3:58PM
“What a wonderful Pastor Graham Osborne has been to his flock at St Catharine's in London road Gloucester. Many of us went by coach to witness his inaugural ceremony at his new Parish in Surrey on Wednesday evening. He brought to St Catharine¿s great warmness along with gifted family who will be sadly missed. I never really thought that a Charismatic ¿Born Again¿ Christian such as me would be comfortable in the Anglican Communion. I was so wrong. On the third calling after Jesus spoke to Simon Peter It was Peter who replied ¿Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.¿ Jesus said to him, ¿Feed my sheep¿. Truly, truly, I say to you, That Gospel Mission is being Fulfilled today at St Catharine¿s. This very morning I attended a ¿Royal Wedding¿ complete with Gloucester and District Christian Choir. That same Anglican church where the ¿Royal Priesthood¿ draw together and celebrate the Glory of God.”
by Colonel Willowby-Gore St. Johns, Wotton Lawn
Saturday, November 21 2009, 10:19AM
“This story just seems to emphasise the shocking decline of the moral fibre of the Church of England. Whilst I agree that oseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat has a underlying allegorical theme, I fail to see why a drug-riddled, fast food addicted crooner is a good role model for a vicar. A befuddled choking on my Kedgeree Harrumph!”