Death of ex-Navy Lark actor turned priest

Jun 17 2009 By Polly Manser

TENNIEL Evans, an actor who retrained to become a non stipendiary priest in his 50s, has died aged 83.

Mr Evans had for over 20 years been a minister at St Mary's and All Saint's Church in Beaconsfield.

He died of emphysema on on June 10 at Wycombe Hospital, with his wife Evangeline and their children Matthew and Serena at his bedside.

Mr Evans had lived with Evangeline at Jordans since 1963 in a house they "fell in love with" while searching for a rural place in which to put down roots in easy reach of the London theatres.

In his 50 year acting career Mr Evans – who changed his name from Walter - made guest appearances is almost every popular television series and was a stalwart of the long-running radio comedy The Navy Lark.

In his 50s he embarked on a three year training course, with the encouragement of his wife, who would pick him up from rehearsals and drive him to Oxford so that he could continue to act.

Mrs Evans said: "Becoming a priest didn't change him, he went on being exactly the same, but he was very moved by the whole thing."

Mr Evans' new vocation, after their children had left home, meant the couple became even more involved in the community, which was "lovely", she said. His other interests were his four grandchildren, reading, and maintaining the couple's wonderful cottage garden.

Mr Evans – who was descended from George Eliot - acted for a time as chaplain to the charity Iain Rennie Hospice at Home which provides palliative care.

His funeral takes place at St Mary and All Saint's at 2.30pm on Friday June 19.