The Reverend Canon Claude Berkley
Rector of All Saints Church
Rector of All Saints Church
In the conviction that parishioners like to know their priests, SAINTS ALIVE! decided to print this interesting,
albeit lengthy, article about Canon Berkley, originally planned for the 160th Anniversary Magazine.
Our now ‘not-so-new’ Rector, the Reverend Canon Claude Berkley, joined us in September 2002, from St
Patrick’s in Tobago. A Tobagonian by birth, nature, upbringing and all else, he has, perhaps paradoxically,
been able to bring both continuity and change to All Saints. Although we were saddened when Canon
Joseph left us, we now recognise that we have been doubly blessed – another unique ministry is emerging
from a new Rector who, in many ways could not be more different, but who can clearly step into the same
shoes.
Growing up in Pembroke, Claude’s early life centred around his Church (St Mary’s), his Schools (initially
Miss Sladden’s Nursery, run by a very serious Anglican lady, then Pembroke Anglican Primary and later,
Bishop’s High School in distant Scarborough) and his Community – the village of Pembroke. While his
upbringing was strict, he could be mischievous and suffered correction as necessary! As a child, he
prophetically acted out his perceptions of the roles of both teacher and priest! He understood responsibility
and learned that one simply did not, ever, say ‘No’ when the Church asked for something to be done. From a
very early age he was a server at the eight churches in the parish of St Mary’s – on the road from 4 am with
Fr. Peter Willis and later Canon Cyril Grazette; both these men, together with his parents and godmother,
were the primary influences on his life.
The stage was set but, blithely unaware, Claude proceeded to Valsayn Teachers’ College, returning in 1982
to Delaford Anglican then Pembroke Anglican Schools. Life was busy and satisfying. He taught in Sunday
School and was a Lay Minister, running services throughout the large dispersed parish. At School, he taught
the Common Entrance class, was Sports master and TTUTA official. He was also deeply involved in his
community’s Best Village programme. Claude became a family man when married Dawn in 1984;
daughters Safiya and Fayola followed within a few years. But Canon Grazette regularly posed the question
‘so, when are you going to Codrington College?’ Before leaving for a trip to Barbados in the long vacation of
1986, the Canon called Claude, wished him an enjoyable holiday and told him that, if anything needed to be
done, he must be sure to do it. While in Barbados, Canon Grazette died suddenly – a severe blow to Claude,
to Pembroke and the whole Church.
Restarting School in September, Claude recalls a strong sense of someone standing near him, watching –
a feeling he was unable to shake, even though he rearranged his entire classroom. Bishop Abdulah came to
lend support to the parish and Claude, disturbed by the lack of leadership, spoke with him. He suggested
that perhaps the Bishop might, temporarily, make him a deacon so that he would be better able to assist,
until a new priest could be sent. This, it should be noted, was not accompanied by any sense of desire to
join the priesthood; he firmly declined Bishop Abdulah’s suggestion that he should begin theological training.
Bishop Abdulah was not, of course, to be so easily discouraged; the requisite forms appeared and, with the
encouragement of Fr. Patrick, then with oversight of St Mary’s, they were completed and submitted. Claude
soon found himself being interviewed by a panel chaired by Fr. Ron Headley. When Bishop Abdulah secured
leave for him to go to Codrington, further resistance was impossible. Clearly, God really did want him to be a
priest. Plans to study at the Cipriani Labour College were abandoned and, with the blessing of his wife, he
enrolled at Codrington in September 1989, leaving behind his two young daughters. But soon, there was a
very serious setback; in January 1990, his father, ‘my hero’, died. Claude had modelled his own life upon his
father’s life and his death affected him deeply. He continued with his studies, graduating in 1992 with an
Upper Second Class B.A. degree in Theology – barely missing the hoped for ‘first’.
(Read More)
albeit lengthy, article about Canon Berkley, originally planned for the 160th Anniversary Magazine.
Our now ‘not-so-new’ Rector, the Reverend Canon Claude Berkley, joined us in September 2002, from St
Patrick’s in Tobago. A Tobagonian by birth, nature, upbringing and all else, he has, perhaps paradoxically,
been able to bring both continuity and change to All Saints. Although we were saddened when Canon
Joseph left us, we now recognise that we have been doubly blessed – another unique ministry is emerging
from a new Rector who, in many ways could not be more different, but who can clearly step into the same
shoes.
Growing up in Pembroke, Claude’s early life centred around his Church (St Mary’s), his Schools (initially
Miss Sladden’s Nursery, run by a very serious Anglican lady, then Pembroke Anglican Primary and later,
Bishop’s High School in distant Scarborough) and his Community – the village of Pembroke. While his
upbringing was strict, he could be mischievous and suffered correction as necessary! As a child, he
prophetically acted out his perceptions of the roles of both teacher and priest! He understood responsibility
and learned that one simply did not, ever, say ‘No’ when the Church asked for something to be done. From a
very early age he was a server at the eight churches in the parish of St Mary’s – on the road from 4 am with
Fr. Peter Willis and later Canon Cyril Grazette; both these men, together with his parents and godmother,
were the primary influences on his life.
The stage was set but, blithely unaware, Claude proceeded to Valsayn Teachers’ College, returning in 1982
to Delaford Anglican then Pembroke Anglican Schools. Life was busy and satisfying. He taught in Sunday
School and was a Lay Minister, running services throughout the large dispersed parish. At School, he taught
the Common Entrance class, was Sports master and TTUTA official. He was also deeply involved in his
community’s Best Village programme. Claude became a family man when married Dawn in 1984;
daughters Safiya and Fayola followed within a few years. But Canon Grazette regularly posed the question
‘so, when are you going to Codrington College?’ Before leaving for a trip to Barbados in the long vacation of
1986, the Canon called Claude, wished him an enjoyable holiday and told him that, if anything needed to be
done, he must be sure to do it. While in Barbados, Canon Grazette died suddenly – a severe blow to Claude,
to Pembroke and the whole Church.
Restarting School in September, Claude recalls a strong sense of someone standing near him, watching –
a feeling he was unable to shake, even though he rearranged his entire classroom. Bishop Abdulah came to
lend support to the parish and Claude, disturbed by the lack of leadership, spoke with him. He suggested
that perhaps the Bishop might, temporarily, make him a deacon so that he would be better able to assist,
until a new priest could be sent. This, it should be noted, was not accompanied by any sense of desire to
join the priesthood; he firmly declined Bishop Abdulah’s suggestion that he should begin theological training.
Bishop Abdulah was not, of course, to be so easily discouraged; the requisite forms appeared and, with the
encouragement of Fr. Patrick, then with oversight of St Mary’s, they were completed and submitted. Claude
soon found himself being interviewed by a panel chaired by Fr. Ron Headley. When Bishop Abdulah secured
leave for him to go to Codrington, further resistance was impossible. Clearly, God really did want him to be a
priest. Plans to study at the Cipriani Labour College were abandoned and, with the blessing of his wife, he
enrolled at Codrington in September 1989, leaving behind his two young daughters. But soon, there was a
very serious setback; in January 1990, his father, ‘my hero’, died. Claude had modelled his own life upon his
father’s life and his death affected him deeply. He continued with his studies, graduating in 1992 with an
Upper Second Class B.A. degree in Theology – barely missing the hoped for ‘first’.
(Read More)
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| The Parish of All Saints |
| The Anglican Church in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago |
