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Samuel
Marsden is a direct descendant of the renowned early colonial chaplain
of the same name, who left his mark firmly on the history of New South
Wales and New Zealand in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
The modern-day Samuel Marsden is the gt.-gt.-gt.-grandson of the `farming
parson
Having been reared in a country vicarage in West Cornwall, UK, Samuel
Marsden studied at Oxford and Lincoln. He married Mary Coak in 1966
and their first son was born in Lincoln. He was ordained priest in 1969
and began his ministry in the Diocese of Truro (Cornwall), first as
a Curate and then as Rector of the small parish of St. Gerrans with
St. Anthony-in-Roseland. During this time he was associated with the
Liturgical Commission of General Synod of the Church of England and
with Trinity House as Chaplain. He also assisted in taking services
on the local Methodist circuit.
He served for five years as the Vicar of Christ Church, Kowloon Tong,
Hong Kong. Here he founded a new English-speaking congregation in the
New Territories and also the airport chaplaincy at Kai Tak Airport.
He was involved in regular broadcasting and was responsible for the
management of a number of Anglican schools, three attached to the Parish.
On their return to the UK he was Rector of the newly formed group of
parishes of Great Warley, Ingrave and Childerditch in Essex, north east
of London. Among other things he promoted international ecumenical relations
with Europe, taught comparative religions, was a member of the Diocesan
Clergy Support Group and of the Council for Social Responsibility. He
also served on the British Council of Churches’ Committee for
Relations with People of other Faiths and was a Chaplain for the Air
Training Corps.
In 1988 he was invited to do a speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand
and followed this with a research tour in nine Asian countries on religion
and culture. The following year he moved with Mary and three of their
children to New South Wales, having had what he calls a `spiritual experience
in Bathurst during the tour, calling him to this country. The family
were welcomed to the Parish of Gilgandra, western NSW, where he was
also responsible for the oversight of Aboriginal ministry in Dubbo.
In addition he became involved in promoting community support projects
in the Central and Far West of NSW, sat on a Health Department RHSET
Committee and established the NSW Ecumenical Rural Consultation to promote
better co-operation between Churches for the support of people in the
bush.
From Gilgandra the family moved to Kelso (Bathurst), where Samuel was
instrumental in erecting several buildings on church land as well as
promoting outreach to the wider community and relations between the
Churches. He established the `Youth Opportunities Overseas Scheme to
send young people to experience life in a third world situation and
was a co-founder of the Bathurst Boomerang Bash to bring Aboriginal
and White Australians together.
Samuel and Mary moved to Parkes in March, 2000, where Samuel also became
the Archdeacon of Wylde. There he held a number of Diocesan positions
culminating in Diocesan Archdeacon. He accepted the position of Rector
of Coffs Harbour in April, 2007. He lectures and preaches on a variety
of subjects around NSW and leads pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Europe.
He can communicate in a number of languages and enjoys travel, photography
and model trains.
Mary is also a person of many gifts and wide experience. She has worked
in a variety of jobs in the places where they have lived as she has
supported Samuel. They have five adult children – two boys and
three girls, of whom two live in Australia and three in the UK.
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