WONDERFUL stories about the Rev Charles Edwards in the church and with his family, at work and holidays, on trains or visiting churches and cathedrals were shared with much humour at the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Rev Charles Edwards at St Swithun’s Church, Sandford on May 4.

Charles died at his home in Crediton on March 6.  He leaves his wife, Georgina, two sons Nick and Jeremy, his sister Penny, two grandchildren and four step grandchildren.

He was born in the USA in 1937.  By 1963 he had moved to the UK and married his first wife Elisabeth.

He attended Ripon Hall Theological College in Oxford and was ordained into the Church of England, working in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Hampshire before moving to Sandford.

Many people will remember Charles as the Rector of Sandford between 1980 and 1994, becoming a “parson for the whole parish” rather than just for churchgoers.   He was also “a people person”.

After leaving Sandford, Charles held a weekly Eucharist for friends and former parishioners at his home in Crediton where he lived with Georgina, whom he married in 1994 and her children Jonathan, Fleur and Timothy.

He had been a railway enthusiast all his life and was a founder member of the Crediton Access Group.  He had poor eyesight due to his albinism.

At the service Charles’ sons Nicholas and Jeremy Edwards spoke of his love of trains, some of his “madcap escapades”, that he enjoyed loud Baroque music and told amusing tales about his many travels in this country and abroad.

Long-time choir master Peter Allsop and former church warden Colin Clarke both shared more memories.

Peter said there were so many different sides to his personality, that he really cared about people and was the last-ever Rector of Sandford.

Three members of St Stephen’s Church, Exeter shared more memories of Charles’ ministry.

Charles’ grand children, Lydia Edwards and Timothy Fulcher, both spoke and Georgina Edwards reminisced on the first time she came into the church and more memories.

The Rev David Francis took the service and Colin Rutterford led the prayers.  Many people stayed for the tea served at the back of the church.