Earwaker, John Clifford

Composer

b S London 1936. Keble Coll Oxford (1956– 59, BA in Theology, MA) and Lincoln Theol Coll; ordained (CofE) 1961. After a curacy at Eccleshall, Staffs, he was briefly the Succentor at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh (1964–65) before some years of teaching Divinity at Ashton L Grammar school. He returned to study at Manchester Univ (MEd 1971), was Chaplain and Senr Lecturer at Sheffield Poly (latterly Sheffield Hallam Univ) from 1981 to 1993, when he retired but remained in that city, assisting in ministry at St Mark’s Broomhill. In preaching, he has asserted that Jesus spoke more about the problem of riches than the problem of poverty. He plays piano, organ, double bass and ’cello; has composed a musical ‘Cousin John’ (text, lyrics and music, about John the Baptist) and many items for all-age services. He also wrote Helping to Support Students for the Open University; and much of his music is published by Stainer and Bell. No.296.