The Reverend Roger Brooks dies at 64 (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Former Wilsden, Harden and Denholme priest dies at his Suffolk home

8:22pm Monday 1st August 2011 in Wilsden By Kathryn Bradley

Tributes have been paid to the former priest in charge of Wilsden, Harden and Denholme, who has died aged 64.

The Reverend Roger Brooks was in charge of the joint parish of St Matthew’s in Wilsden and St Saviour’s in Harden, as well as St Paul’s, now the Shared Church, in Denholme, from 2003 to 2009. He took over six parishes near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in 2009.

He was diagnosed with cancer last year and died at home on Wednesday.

Richard Hayton, churchwarden at St Matthew’s, said he was grateful to have known Mr Brooks.

“He did a great job for the parishes and we were sad to lose him when he moved to Suffolk,” he said. “He was a very caring person but at the same time he had a wicked sense of humour.”

John Hansen, a former St Matthew’s churchwarden, said he would remember Mr Brooks for his powerful sermons. He said he had also got the church finances in order and had launched a children’s weekday service.

Malcolm Jones, churchwarden in Harden, said Mr Brooks would be sadly missed. He said: “He served us well and we were very sorry to see him go to Suffolk but we understood he wanted to spread his wings one last time before he retired.”

• Read more in Tuesday’s T&A