REVEREND PETER ELERS
The connection between Reverend Peter Charles Edward Elers (1930-1986) and myself is shown in the whakapapa below.
Reverend Peter Charles Edward Elers was from an aristocratic pedigree. Although his fifth great grandfather was German, Reverend Peter Elers' fourth great grandmother was Dorothy Carew of Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire. Accordingly, Reverend Peter Elers was a direct descendant of King Edward 1. The Elers family are mentioned in several books about the Royal family lineage. As an example, here is an extract from the Burke 1851 book on the Royal family genealogy. Here is a different extract from another book. Reverend Peter Elers' third great grandmother (Mary Elers nee Charon or Charron) was from a French Huguenot family. Huguenots were French Protestant Christians.
VICAR OF THAXTED
Reverend Peter Elers graduated from the University of Oxford (BA 1952, MA 1956) and was ordained to the diaconate in 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1955. He served at St James with All Saints', Colchester from 1954 to 1957. Thereafter he became a curate at Christ Church with St Mary, Wanstead, Essex. In 1973 he became the vicar of Thaxted. Click on this link to read the service programme for his induction/installation as the vicar of Thaxted.
The news article below is one of my favourite media clippings about Reverend Peter Elers.
The news article below is one of my favourite media clippings about Reverend Peter Elers.
GAY RIGHTS ADVOCATE
Although married to Gillian Mary Heald (daughter of Reverend G. Heald of Oxfordshire) since 1956, Reverend Peter Elers had been offering a sympathetic ear to gay clergy, and in January 1975 he chaired a one-day conference titled Christian and Gay at the Institute of Christian Studies in Margaret Street. Even though he was now the centre of controversy, he remained popular among his peers and was elected to the General Synod of the Church of England in October 1975.
On the 3rd of April 1976 the Gay Christian Movement was established with Reverend Peter Elers as the chairperson. This attracted more attention, followed by his appearance in a BBC documentary one year later called The Lord is my Shepherd and He knows I'm Gay. His advocacy for gay rights kept him in the spotlight. He died in 1986 after a long health battle (brain tumour).
On the 3rd of April 1976 the Gay Christian Movement was established with Reverend Peter Elers as the chairperson. This attracted more attention, followed by his appearance in a BBC documentary one year later called The Lord is my Shepherd and He knows I'm Gay. His advocacy for gay rights kept him in the spotlight. He died in 1986 after a long health battle (brain tumour).
Reverend Dr Steve Elers visiting Thaxted to pay respects to Reverend Peter Elers.
