THE
P RTAL
September 2018
Page 23
Father Donald Minchew
1948-2018
The Rt Rev Mgr John Broadhurst
remembers a popular
Ordinariate priest
I first met
Fr Donald when I became Bishop
of Fulham. Under his leadership St Michael’s
Croydon had petitioned for Alternative Episcopal
Oversight. He was a very attractive character who
always had a smile.
He studied for the ministry at St Michael’s College
Llandaff and was ordained in 1976. He served in
various parishes in the diocese of Gloucester before
coming to Croydon in 1995. While there he initiated a
large development on the old Vicarage site.
Not only was a large Parish Centre with a cloister
built but also a block of flats. He was a man of ideas
with a lot of drive. Fr Donald had four sons and for
most of the time he brought them up as a single
parent; in spite of that he was always available. Under
his leadership the parish developed a good social life.
He was a very jocular man. Occasionally his sense of
humour, and his impulsiveness, could cause him some
embarrassment. In the last few years he has suffered
with lung cancer but it never stopped him smiling.
St Michael’s Croydon is a very beautiful church and
Fr Donald increased the congregation while he was
there. When the Ordinariate began he was immediately
committed to it. A large group joined him in exploring
the Catholic Faith and it was my privilege to receive
them and confirm them.
I believe this was the largest single group to enter the
Ordinariate and it was a great testimony to Fr Donald’s
leadership and pastoral skills that they were willing to
leave their beautiful church. Unfortu