A VICAR who suffered a "catastrophic" illness which left him partially paralysed has been appointed to a key new position.
The Reverend Tim Goode, who has to walk with crutches following his near-death experience 19 years ago, is the new Southwark Diocesan Disability Advisor.
He was offered the post by the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, and accepted last week.
It comes in addition to the roles he has held since last summer as vicar of both St Luke's in Whyteleafe Hill, Whyteleafe, and St Peter and St Paul Church in Rook Lane, Chaldon.
It sparks from an episode back in 1994 when he fell seriously ill at a happy time in his life, when he was not long married, and had just become head of music at Homefield Preparatory School in Sutton. Mr Goode recalled: "It was catastrophic at the time.
"Life was great. I was 26, I had got married only the year before
"Then I developed a cancerous tumour in my neck. It was so unexpected – and its effects nearly killed me.
"I spent months in hospital, during which I contracted double pneumonia."
It left him partially paralysed from the waist down.
A vicar's son, he said his faith had wavered in his early adulthood. But his illness made him think again.
He said: "I used to ask 'why me'?
"But so many people experience suffering – Jesus certainly did – and that realisation freed me from being a victim.
"I became much more at peace with myself."
A former schoolteacher, he was formerly a curate at Croydon Minster (formerly Croydon Parish Church), for the past three years.
Mr Goode, 43, is married to Bernie, who is head of science at Wimbledon High School.
He added: "The combination of my dog collar and crutches will certainly make me very distinctive.
"The dog collar has always given me the opportunity of a 'way in' to talk to people.
"This new post should provide a fascinating and stimulating addition to my role as parish priest, especially as it will involve occasionally visiting parishes diocese-wide as well as being the port of call for all things that encompass disability."
Under the Disability Discrimination Act, churches must carry out access audits and identify areas for improvement, including installing induction loops for hearing aids, large-print service books, clear signs and structural changes such as providing ramps and disabled toilets.
