Christopher Woods

Jan 17 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

TO HIS friends, it seemed like a Damascene conversion. For the brilliant light that shone in his station-wagon, also filled the Kiwi pleasure-seeker with the holy spirit and this started him rolling on an extraordinary and inspirational career, which would end in a pulpit in the glass town of St Helens.

Christopher Samuel Woods, always known as Kik, was born at Napier, Hawkes Bay, on New Zealand’s North Island, where his clerical family had close missionary associations with the Maori people of Waiapu.

Between 1946 and ’51, young Kik lived in England, where his father Sam was a vicar in Southport and then Hatfield. On returning to New Zealand, he discovered that his friendly manner, trumpet-playing and prowess at lessons and sport gained him many admirers.

From there, Woods advanced in the full flush of exuberant youth to Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA. But, amid the partying, his scholarship deal was cancelled after five terms. He then applied himself with a little more diligence to his studies at Canterbury University, New Zealand – leading to jobs with publishers in London.

During this time, Woods travelled extensively, but seemed destined to a roaming life, returning to New Zealand to become a bearded truck driver, changing again to publishing.

However, in 1974, he found his station wagon bathed in light and decided there and then that it was a calling to the ministry, a course from which he never wavered.

He trained for the church at Queen’s College, Birmingham, England. Soon after that, falling in love with Kathy Howard, a Catholic.

But the marriage between the Catholic and the evangelical Anglican was a happy one.

After ordination, Woods completed a two-year curacy at All Souls, Childwall, Liverpool, from which in 1979 he moved to Holy Trinity Church, Parr Mount, St Helens.

Canon Woods was Dean of St Helens between 2000 and 2006.

He stayed at Holy Trinity until 2005, when he took over from Rev Christopher Byworth at St Helens Parish Church. His concerns were always for the poor of the town, struggling against adversity.

In 1991, he had set up SHINE with Rev Byworth. It helped local churches work towards a more Christian-centred community.

Woods and Kathy, who had five children, were deeply loved and respected. Parishioners spoke of how, together, they had enriched their lives.

Christopher Woods, clergyman; born January 15, 1943, died December 10, 2008.