MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Reverend Canon Edmund Owen Procter Schurr, known affectionately by his hundreds, if not thousands of former parishioners as Father Ted, celebrates a major milestone in his service as priest in the Anglican Church this year when it will be 60 years since he was ordained a priest by former Archbishop Joost de Blank at St Mark's Church, District 6, Cape Town, on 16 December 1962.
Father Ted felt his calling to the priesthood in his early 20s and trained at St Paul's Theological College in Grahamstown.
He became senior student in his final year and found time to captain the college's hockey team.
After his ordination as deacon again by Archbishop Joost at St Paul's Church in Cape Town in 1961, he served in the parish of Clanwilliam, which included Citrusdal, Lamberts Bay, Klawer, Vredendal, Niewoudville, Loeriesfontein and Calvinia. After two years he became assistant priest for the next three years at St Mary's in Stellenbosch.
The Archbishop of Cape Town, Robert Selby Taylor, arranged for Father Ted to go to England, where he spent the next six months at Cuddesdon Theological College in Oxford. On his return to South Africa he became priest-in-charge of the Parish of St Helena Bay and lived in Laaiplek.
This was followed by another move, this time as rector of Holy Trinity in Paarl for eight years.
Unexpected turn
In 1975 Father Ted's personal life took an unexpected turn when he met and married his wife Jen, who has been his strength and stay throughout their many years of married life.
They were married by Archbishop Bill Burnett in St George's Cathedral in Cape Town.
They have two daughters and three grandchildren, all shining lights in their lives. After eight years in Paarl, they moved to Ficksburg in the Free State. The parish included Clocolan, Marquard and Fouriesburg.
Two years later he became rector of the Parish of All Saints in Durbanville, where his grandfather had been rector until his death in 1932. The Schurr family spent more than eight years in Durbanville with Father Ted looking after the Parishes of St Paul-in-the-Valley and Klipheuwel as well.
In 1988 Father Ted and his family moved to the Parish of St Peter in Mossel Bay, where they remained for 14 of the happiest years of his ministry.
After his retirement he was privileged to look after several parishes in Europe with Jen by his side and under the licence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was priest-in-charge of the Anglican Church in Milan, Italy for two months. For six months he was in charge of the Parish of Bruges and Ostend in Belgium.
On four occasions he was welcomed by the Parish of St Edward in Lugano in Switzerland. Father Ted and Jen treasure these experiences and the lasting friendships they made.
They now live a quiet life in Mossel Bay. However, Father Ted still conducts marriages, baptisms and funerals when invited to do so. A man who lives by his faith and dedicated to his calling, Father Ted's ministry to the ill and the bereaved has been a great comfort to those in need of such support.
Preside at Mass
Father Ted will preside at Mass on Friday, 23 December at 10:00 in St Peter's Church, when his family from Cape Town will be present. The guest preacher will be Bishop Paddy Glover, former Bishop of Bloemfontein. There will be tea in the Parish Centre after Mass. All are welcome.
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