Did you know… Thomas Heather

20 December marks the anniversary of the death in 1696 of Thomas Heather. When he died, aged 74, he had been Vicar here at St Thomas’s for 33 years, and had overseen the rebuilding of the church following the Civil War damage that the building had sustained in 1642. 

He is commemorated twice in the Cathedral. A memorial in St Thomas’s Chapel bears a Latin inscription, which translates as ‘To the sacred memory of Thomas Heather, both Chaplain to Charles II, his most serene majesty, by divine right, and vicar of this parish.

For almost 35 years he has been by his life, belief and preaching an admirable model of extraordinary piety, true faith and diligent ministry. He gave his soul back to God on 20th day of December 1696 in the 75th year of his life. His body sleeps in peace, awaiting the blessed resurrection, but has left for his friends a sad yearning, Farewell, reader and, so that you may depart in good heart, live well.’ 

His image appears in the Navy aisle windows, above the Mary Rose Memorial, where he is attired in the clerical garb of the day, standing in front of the newly constructed tower and scaffolding to support the proposed nave, part of the present-day Quire.

Thomas Heather had been appointed to St Thomas’s in December 1663, having been Vicar of Fareham since 1660 and Titchfield since 1661. During his time here he also held in plurality the rectory of Eldon, near Stockbridge, probably on account of the poor living Portsmouth provided. He took a new wife at the age of 70.

After his death his diaries were discovered, from which it was learned that his preference would have been to demolish St Thomas’s and replace it with a completely new edifice - in his own disparaging words, ‘Our parish church has become a beauteous structure, I heartily wish I could see the chancel answer it’. Shortage of funds however left him with no alternative but to build on what was there already - something we seem to have been doing ever since.

The images show Thomas Heather’s memorial, his window and his signature on a Test Act certificate.