Vicar exchange between Wickford, Essex, and Wickford, Rhode Island.

On the 12th May 1983, the ‘Echo’ reported on an exchange involving vicars in two Wickfords.

‘American rector, Norman Desrosiers, has taken charge at Wickford’s St. Catherine’s Church in a three-week exchange. While he looks after the flock at St. Catherine’s, the rector there, the Rev. Roy Thomas, is minding the congregation at the other Wickford, in Rhode Island, USA.

Mr Desrosiers said “My wife, Barbara, enjoys making her own bread and cooking, but we’ve been far too busy for any baking. It’s the parishioners who have been baking for us. I happened to mention I was partial to scones – and next morning they brought a couple of dozen to our kitchen”.

Mr Desrosiers said that he will be taking away many happy memories of Wickford when he returns home next Wednesday.

His children, Kim, 13, and Caroline, 10, are collecting a list of pen pals and putting together a journal of their stay.’