Obituary Revd John C R Webb
The following obituary was written by John's son, Richard.
Revd J.C.R. Webb (NC 1951–57)
John Webb sadly died on 2nd October 2025, aged 87. He was born in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and attended the local preparatory school before joining Blundell’s in the autumn of 1951. At school he was a Company Sergeant Major in the Cadet Force, a school monitor, and Head of House.
After leaving Blundell’s, John was articled to the accountants Deloitte, Plender and Griffiths. Shortly after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he decided to pursue his vocation and went to Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, to study for the priesthood. While there, he married his wife, Marie.
Following ordination, he served as a curate at St Paul’s, Mill Hill, where he became involved with the local military barracks. A few years later, he joined the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department and went on to serve for 22 years, with postings across Great Britain, Germany, Northern Ireland, and Cyprus, as well as touring with the United Nations.
He retired from the Army at the age of 55, and in 1993 was appointed Rector of Bentworth, Lasham and Shalden in Hampshire. He embraced parish life and took great pleasure in being a rural priest, getting to know and care for his parishioners. Alongside his ministry, he enjoyed keeping bees, ducks, and geese, and having sheep grazing in the rectory garden.
John and Marie later retired to Somerset, where they shared a joyful and fulfilling retirement, celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary and taking great delight in their five grandchildren.
He will be remembered for his kindness, wisdom, and dedication to those he served, and for the warmth and generosity of spirit that enriched so many lives.