Rev Bob Naylor (75) served as the parish’s rector between 2007 and 2012, taking up the post on the same day he celebrated his 65th birthday.
Mr Naylor, who moved from Dorset to the Island with his wife Joan, joined the church after suffering a bad injury as a professional rugby player for St Helens. The injury required a major operation and four-month recuperation period in hospital, during which time he felt that God was with him.
Paying tribute to Mr Naylor, St Mary’s Constable Juliette Gallichan said: ‘He had a very serious job as rector for the church but he had a real knack of engaging with people even if they weren’t particularly religious people. He often had a little story he would tell at the beginning of the service.
‘He always tried to liven things up.’
During his five-year stay in Jersey, Mr Naylor also served as a Constable’s Officer for a term and Mrs Gallichan believes he may be the first rector to also be a member of the honorary police.
After leaving the Island in 2012 he returned for a short period to cover a vacancy at the Town Church.
Mrs Gallichan added: ‘It was lovely to see him again when he came back for a short time.
‘Bob and his wife really became part of the community. They were both keen singers and regularly sang at events held in the parish.
‘We always joked that he could direct traffic [for the honorary police] before a wedding and then go in and take the service.
‘He was one of those people that just got on and did things.’
A funeral is due to be held in West Lulworthon, Dorset, on Friday and a number of Islanders are expected to attend, including Mrs Gallichan. A memorial service is then due to take place in Jersey in the coming weeks but a date has not yet been confirmed.
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