Thomas William Arch 1947 – 1954

The Reverend Arch hailed from Wales. Born in 1898 his father was a land agent and farmer. The family lived at The Abbey Strata Florida in Cardiganshire. The house standing in the grounds of the ruined medieval abbey is now owned by The Strata Florida Trust and is being developed as a cultural centre.

Thomas married Laura Lilian Davies in Lancashire. In 1939 we find them in Birmingham where Thomas is a “missioner to the deaf and dumb”. Serving in the RAF during the war he won the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.

After the war he trained at Bishops College Cheshunt and was ordained at Bury St. Edmunds in June 1954 his first post seems to have been Assistant Curate at St. Augustine’s Church Ipswich from there moving to Over Kellet in Lancashire as vicar from 1954 until in March 1959 was instituted to the united benefice of Stowupland and Old Newton.

After leaving the parish he was vicar of 2 more benefices in the county – Worlingham then Cotton and Wickham Skeith. He was also chaplain to the Suffolk wing of the Air Training Corps and the Royal Air Force Association.

A son Gwyn played the organ in the church during his father’s time here and later taught music at Rickmansworth Grammar School.

Gwyn’s son is Dave Arch the musical director of BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” and can be seen regularly conducting the band on the show.

Neil Langridge July 2022