Reverend Michael Escritt Archive

Notes from sermons given after his retirement, June 1998-2010; 'Safe in your Hands', an autobiography of Michael Escritt, 2006; 'A Year in Remission 2007-2008', printed autobiographical account of his year in remission from leukaemia, 2008; order of service for funeral of Michael Escritt, 2011.

Michael William Escritt was born in Hessay, near York, in 1935. A former pupil of Archbishop Holgate's school, he initially embarked on a naval career, joining the Royal Navy in 1952. From 1960 to 1961 he was part of the Resident Naval Officer's staff in Aden, and then joined the staff of the HMS Ceasar in 1962.
He left the Navy in 1964 after feeling a strong calling to a vocation in the church. He attended the University of Birmingham to gain his Diploma in Theology in 1967. He was ordained as deacon in 1967 and priest in 1968. He was a Curate of Huntington, York from 1967-1969 and from 1969 to 1972 he was domestic chaplain to Donald Coggan, Archbishop of York. It was during this time that he met and married his wife, Margaret, who was later ordained and became the first woman Canon of York Minster. The couple had two children.
Reverend Escritt was vicar of Bishopthorpe between 1972 and 1983, as well as vicar of Acaster Malbis between 1973 and 1983, and vicar of Selby Abbey between 1983 and 1990, in which post he oversaw a major restoration appeal for the Abbey. He became rector for Haxby with Wigginton in 1990 and stayed there until his retirement in 1998.
He died on 22 January 2011, aged 75, following a four year battle with leukaemia.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

The archive was gifted to the Borthwick Institute in 2012 by the Escritt family.

Michael William Escritt was born in Hessay, near York, in 1935. A former pupil of Archbishop Holgate's school, he initially embarked on a naval career, joining the Royal Navy in 1952. From 1960 to 1961 he was part of the Resident Naval Officer's staff in Aden, and then joined the staff of the HMS Ceasar in 1962.
He left the Navy in 1964 after feeling a strong calling to a vocation in the church. He attended the University of Birmingham to gain his Diploma in Theology in 1967. He was ordained as deacon in 1967 and priest in 1968. He was a Curate of Huntington, York from 1967-1969 and from 1969 to 1972 he was domestic chaplain to Donald Coggan, Archbishop of York. It was during this time that he met and married his wife, Margaret, who was later ordained and became the first woman Canon of York Minster. The couple had two children.
Reverend Escritt was vicar of Bishopthorpe between 1972 and 1983, as well as vicar of Acaster Malbis between 1973 and 1983, and vicar of Selby Abbey between 1983 and 1990, in which post he oversaw a major restoration appeal for the Abbey. He became rector for Haxby with Wigginton in 1990 and stayed there until his retirement in 1998.
He died on 22 January 2011, aged 75, following a four year battle with leukaemia.

This archive has not yet been catalogued. A summary of its contents can be seen in the scope and content above.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 25.08.16.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

Published

GB193