It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Revd. Canon Ian Harper after a short illness. Ian was Vicar of St. Luke Homerton from 2000-2010 and Area Dean from 2004-2009 before moving to Birmingham as Vicar of St. John & St. Peter Ladywood and later was appointed a Canon. In recent years Ian and his wife Shizuko moved back to London where Ian became one of the team at St. Luke’s Canning Town, and supported other Parishes in Newham Deanery as cover for sickness etc. He also worked with E20 church in the Olympic Park in an advisory capacity.

I was Churchwarden at St. Luke Homerton during Ian’s time there as Vicar and he was instrumental in encouraging me to become a Licensed Lay Minister, which I became, and remained for eleven years at St. Luke’s until my recent ordination. Ian took a great pride in the Curates he trained and all those he nurtured for any kind of ministry. He was delighted to know of my ordination and that he had played a part in setting me on that road. He also had a great heart for youth and engagement with young people in the church. Although he moved out of the Stepney Area, he never lost touch with those with whom he had formed a strong bond at St. Luke’s, arranging visits to stay with him and Shizuko in Birmingham and returning to St. Luke’s Homerton by permission of the new Vicar, to conduct funerals and other services for those he knew so well. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Revd. Vera Preedy