Friends and family pay tribute to popular Anglican priest

Monday 04 January 2021

Family and friends have paid a moving tribute to a popular Anglican clergyman who passed away with covid-19 just before Christmas.

The Rev Giles Bartleman was curate at St Mark’s Church for three-and-a-half years and leaves behind his wife, Emily, and their six-year-old son Samuel.

Paying tribute to her husband, who died aged 50, Mrs Bartleman said: “Giles was a special man who touched the lives of many. As a priest, he was gifted in many areas but all were marked by a deep sense of humility. 

“He was a great listener and had the ability to make everyone feel accepted and welcome. Alongside this, as one member of the congregation once said, he could deliver ‘a powerful preach’ and his sermons called you to look at the gospel in new and radical ways.

"He was a funny guy and was not in the habit of taking himself too seriously."

Pictured: Rev Bartleman with his wife, Emily, and their son, Samuel.

She continued: “Giles made a sacrifice in entering ministry. At the age of 35, he had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This was a particularly rare and aggressive form of cancer for adults and he endured gruelling treatment alongside a stem cell transplant from his sister, Nicola, which cured him of the cancer but left him with detrimental side effects. 

“Prior to that, he had been a fun-loving and energetic young man, but the cancer affected him deeply both physically and spiritually. Always on a spiritual journey, he searched deeper, and in time, became a Christian.  

“Despite returning to a high-paid job in accountancy, in September 2015, he made the difficult decision to give up financial security and to self-finance himself and his family for two years at Wycliffe Theological College. There was no guarantee of a paid job at the end! 

“Thankfully, in February 2017, he was given a stipend and accepted to be curate at St. Mark’s Church. Jersey was a gift for Giles: having sailed across the Atlantic in his care-free youth, he loved the sea and it was a joy for him to be able to kayak and boogie board with our young son, Samuel. He loved the beauty of the scenery here and all that Jersey’s beaches have to offer. 

“Sadly, Giles picked up covid and, due to his underlying health conditions, despite the expert hands of the ICU, to whom I am so grateful, he died on Saturday 19 December. Hospital staff always loved Giles, and, even in these final days, he shared his faith as well as stories of walking the coastal paths.” 

Pictured: A qualified accountant, Rev Bartleman was ordained into the priesthood in 2018.

Outgoing Rector of St. Mark’s, Rev Martyn Shea, said: “Giles was one of the most caring and thoughtful people I have ever had the privilege of working with. 

“He always had time for others and he made people from all walks of life feel cared for, listened to and loved. So many tributes have come in from around the island for he touched the lives of so many people with the love of God. 

“Even at the hardest moments, Giles was always thinking of others - he wrote this from ICU to myself and my wife Liz: ‘I have been thinking of you both and how much you have suffered but thank the Lord for such a wonderful supportive church family and knowing that the Lord is our refuge and our strength. Prayers are going out for you both night and day.'"

Rev Bartleman’s favourite beach was Ouaisné.

While his funeral will take place in St. Peter’s Church, Chertsey, where he and Emily got married, it is hoped there will be a memorial service and celebration of Giles' life on Ouaisné beach at a later date.

Express extends its sincere condolences to Rev Bartleman's family.