Tribute to Rutland Griffin

The Reverend Rutland Griffin, who directed and transformed St Andrew’s Church and the parish for 11 years, died at a Sussex nursing home on September 5.

Mr Griffin came to St Andrew’s Church from Hatfield in 1949 to serve a second curacy alongside the incumbent Stanley Farbridge.

He and his wife Dorothy moved into the curate’s house in Drove Road.

When Mr Farbridge moved on Mr Griffin replaced him, later introducing the 9.30am parish communion service which still takes place today.

Music was also a priority and Mr Griffin managed to secure the services of Brian Lincoln, senior music master at the then Stratton School, as organist and choirmaster.

The social life that surrounds the church was also important to Mr Griffin, and he later set up a thriving Church of England’s Men’s Society (CEMS). Dorothy founded the Young Wives’ Group while three Sunday schools were also established.

The appearance of the church was also important to Mr Griffin, and he enlisted the help of the entire CEMS to clear up the churchyard and plant new trees.

Mr Griffin believed strongly in the need for regular church attendance and at a public meeting he spoke against plans to open the former cinema in Biggleswade on Sundays.

Disaster later struck in 1953 when there was a fire at the church, seriously damaging the building.

Mr Griffin was determined to bring the building back to use as soon as possible and he quickly launched an appeal, refurbishing the entire church.

Eventually Mr Griffin reached the stage where he felt his work at St Andrew’s Church was complete and he decided to move back to his beloved native county, Kent.

He later became Vicar of Dartford and also the town mayor.

Throughout his life Mr Griffin maintained his love of St Andrew’s Church, keeping up his membership of the Friends of St Andrew’s group until the very end.

On the 40th anniversary of the 1953 fire he returned to the area to speak at a social evening hosted by the Friends of St Andrew’s.

He is survived by his daughters Catherine and Gillian and also his grandchildren. Dorothy died 18 months ago.