Alfred Wood Archive

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Alfred Wood died on 3 April 2021 at the age of 100 having given 75 years of devoted service to the church of St Margaret of Antioch, Lee as well as to local community groups and charities. He was born in the area and never moved away from it.

Alfred was the longest serving Reader in the Diocese of Southwark, having been licensed in 1952. He preached 753 sermons during his long life, most of which were delivered in St Margaret’s but he also extended his ministry to local United Reformed and Methodist churches in the area. Apart from preaching, Alfred took on many other roles at St Margaret’s, being on the Parochial Church Council for 28 years and Churchwarden for 13 years, and a St Margaret’s School Governor for 12 years. With his beloved wife Doris, he led the Parish Youth Group and then later on the Woods ran the Darby and Joan Club for the elderly.

Alfred’s passion was local history. Coming from a non-churchgoing working class family, there was little money and so he had to occupy himself in the school holidays. Alfred visited local churchyards, recording tombstone inscriptions. He was one of the founder members of the Lewisham Local History Society. Alfred’s 6 years service as Chairman was recognized by his appointment as a life Vice-President in 1974.

Alfred’s publications range from booklets, histories and guides of which include two major books about St Margaret’s and its history. He was widely respected by his peers for his encyclopaedic knowledge on many subjects.

Part of his legacy includes 2 major publications of the area - Leland Duncan's History of Lewisham (1908) and F. H. Hart's History of Lee, 1882.