Noel Vincent spent more than 20 years in the BBC’s religious broadcasting department where he was not only a respected and admired producer, but an outstanding broadcaster himself.
Vincent studied at what was then Fitzwilliam House and then Ridley Hall, a choice that indicated less than total enthusiasm for the radical theology for which 1960s Cambridge was famous.
He was ordained priest in 1964 at St Basil and St James’ in Fenham in the diocese of Newcastle, where he was curate, and met his wife Angela, who taught in the Sunday school and ran the Brownie pack. Later on he was to commend worship in cathedrals because, he said, “people know they won’t be pounced on to run the Brownies”.
In 1967 he became curate at Prudhoe and three years later moved to the diocese of Derby to be vicar of Holbrook. He was an honorary canon of Derby from 1978-85.
In 1974 Vincent became involved in religious broadcasting when he was appointed diocesan information officer for the diocese of Derby and also priest-in-charge of Osmaston with Edlaston. A radio natural, Vincent became a producer with Radio Derby and then went on attachment to the BBC’s religious broadcasting department in Manchester.
Advertisement
He quickly became the senior producer there, then moved to London first to succeed Stephen Oliver, who had left to become vicar of Leeds, as chief producer, and latterly as chief assistant to the head of BBC religious broadcasting, the Rev Ernie Rea.
While in London, Vincent was an honorary curate at St Mary’s Twickenham. Although he never left colleagues in any doubt that he was a loyal Anglican, Vincent was first and foremost a BBC producer. When in Manchester he oversaw moves away from traditional church-based worship, exploring more innovative and intimate formats. He directed many Songs of Praise programmes, notably one from Hexham Abbey that was one of the first to use coloured lighting; a memorable Remembrance Day edition from Accrington with survivors from the trenches; and the wettest ever open-air programme from Ambleside. Vincent was also responsible for a series of children’s religious programmes, Knock Knock and Umbrella, about the legends and myths of the world’s faiths.
When it was decided to move the religious broadcasting department to Manchester Vincent played a considerable part in persuading colleagues who regarded this move as a form of Siberian banishment that it was only so if they persisted in believing that.
In 1995 Vincent retired from the BBC staff and became canon treasurer of Liverpool Cathedral, but he continued his important and valued role as a radio religious broadcaster, contributing regularly to the Daily Service on Radio 4 (where he won an appreciative audience), Pause for Thought on Radio 2 and Sunday Worship.
He was someone who was naturally comfortable with worship in cathedrals. As a boy he sang in Worcester Cathedral choir under Sir Ivor Atkins, in the days when Holy Week services were sung by the choir on its knees.
Advertisement
However, he recognised that radio worship often demanded something less formal than the strictly liturgical: in 2005 he co-presented an edition of Sunday Worship which focused on humour and laughter, with the comedian Ken Dodd. While at Liverpool he produced a guide to the cathedral’s stained glass, was a member of Liverpool John Moore University’s scholarship board and part-time chaplain at Altcourse Fazakerley prison. He continued to lead worship after retiring to Formby in 2005.
Vincent was a gently impressive producer, a fine broadcaster and both inside and outside the BBC a natural pastor.
He is survived by his wife, Angela, a son and a daughter.
Canon Noel Vincent, priest and broadcaster, was born on December 19, 1936. He died of cancer on July 31, 2009, aged 72