Life Stories
John Richard Rice-Oxley
John Richard Rice-Oxley (1962 BA Literae Humaniores) died on 19 June 2023 aged 79.
Born in Oxford during the Second World War, Richard was educated at Greycotes Oxford, Ranby House Retford and Worksop College, read Classics at Keble and later took an MA in Theology at St Chad’s College, Durham. After leaving Keble, he taught English at a school in Tanzania and then returned to begin ordination training at the London College of Divinity, being ordained Deacon in 1970. He began his parochial ministry at Eastwood Parish Church and this was followed by five years as Church Mission Society Youth Adviser. With a lifelong love of orchestral and choral music, Richard was a member of the Bach Choir in London under David Willcocks. He married Sylvia in 1976 and was later vicar of St John’s Mansfield, St Bartholomew’s Thornley, St Matthew and St Luke’s Darlington and St Nicholas’s Hornsea. He was incredibly well-loved as a parish priest and a source of comfort and inspiration to many. He loved Oxford, having been born there and having family there throughout his life. He was proud to come from a Keble family, following his great-uncle Leonard Rice-Oxley (English tutor) and preceding his younger brother Patrick (medicine) and daughter Kaffy (Classics). He is survived by his wife Sylvia and children Kaffy and David.
Kindly provided by daughter Kaffy Rice-Oxley (1997)