Rev John Suddards: vicar stabbed to death in his own home - Telegraph.co.uk

The vicarage stands in the shadow of Thornbury's handsome Tudor castle, which was built by the Duke of Buckingham and hosted Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Mr Suddards, a clergyman for 22 years, had arrived in the town, about 12 miles north of Bristol, last July after transferring from a parish in Witham, Essex.

The Rev Geoffrey Fison, 77, a retired priest who lives in the village, said: "He's only been here a few months. He hadn't got his feet under the table.

"He was an excellent preacher, but being an ex-barrister that is hardly surprising. He was a very able person. He was quite open and pastorally sensitive.

"I don't think we've come to terms with it at all. I don't think it has really sunk in yet. It's terribly tragic."

Mr Suddards had studied law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and practised as a barrister before realising his true vocation. He is unmarried and leaves a sister, a brother-in-law, two nieces and a nephew living in Bridport, Dorset.

On joining the parish seven months ago, Mr Suddards disclosed how a road accident led him to the church.

"I was a barrister in London and I had a major road accident when I was 31 and as a result of that accident, and a series of events that happened, it led me to believe that I should go into the Church," he said.

"Lawyers can do two things: they can separate people and they can transfer money, but not much more than that. I felt I would like to do much more than that."

He was inducted to the parish by the Right Rev Michael Purham, the Bishop of Gloucester. He ran St Mary's Church in Thornbury as well as St Arilda in Oldbury and Shepperdine Chapel.

"It's quite a quiet little town; everybody knows everybody," said Mitch Hoare, 25, the manager of the Royal George. "The locals don't get things like this happening very often."

Elizabeth Vooght, 65, the wife of a former vicar of Thornbury, said she last saw Mr Suddards at church on Sunday morning.

"There was nothing untoward at all," she said. "It's very shocking. It really is terrible. He's only been here since last July. People were very fond of him; he was a very lovable person and he was good company."

Neil Halsall, 67, deputy mayor and vice-chairman of Thornbury town council, said the suspected murder was "most out of keeping" with the quiet market town. "I think if you try to find a murder in the history of Thornbury you would have to go 200 years back," he said. "It is a quaint and safe place, there is practically no crime. The town is in complete shock."

Shirley Holloway, 69, said Mr Suddards was a "wonderful" vicar. "It just doesn't seem possible," she said. "He was a very personable man. You would absolutely not expect this sort of thing to happen here."