Interview - Reverend Dr Clifford Owen
In 2002, Reverend Dr Clifford Owen became chaplain of Holy
Trinity Anglican Church on Corfu, and since that time he has
served in that position continuously performing more than
550 services, 40 wedding blessings, 15 funerals as well as
Remembrance Sunday services, a Corfu Channel Incident
60 Memorial and other special services and blessings.
Before coming to Corfu, Reverend Owen was posted in
Worcenstershire, England as the pastor of three sep-
arate churches, as well as acting as Deocesan Ecumenical
Officer and County Ecumenical Officer for Worcester.
Sadly, Reverend Owen will be moving on after 31 October this
year to assume another post somewhere in the Euro-zone
as yet undetermined. For the 200-300 worshipers that attend Holy Trinity during the course of any summer, and for the 60 or so local parishioners in regular attendance at Holy Trinity, his absence will be felt. Indeed, Clifford has become not only a familiar face on Corfu, but a valued community member and leader.
As a fitting tribute, and as a fond farewell, Corfu Magazine recently conducted the following interview with Clifford.
Corfu Magazine: What was your first impression of Corfu? What is your impression of Corfu now? Has it changed from your first impression? If so then in what way?
Reverend Owen: Arrived on 28th December 2002. We thought it a surprisingly green and pleasant land because we were expecting something like Malta. However, we quickly discovered the potholed roads and post-Christmas rubbish around the wheely-bins! But now August 2008, great improvements have been made to roads, and some progress made in re-cycling and collecting rubbish.
Corfu Magazine: What advice would you give to people who are considering moving to Corfu permanently?
Reverend Owen: If you own a property in your mother country, it’s probably wise to keep it and rent it. Use the income to rent in Corfu, whilst you wait to see if you are really going to like it here. Even if you think you know the island from countless happy holidays, it is still a big adjustment from that to actually living here. Give yourself two years to try it out.
Corfu Magazine: The expatriate community on Corfu continues to rise in number. Currently people from Great Britain make up the largest percentage of expats on the island. From your perspective, what constitutes a responsible expatriate citizen? What must he or she do as an expatriate to live in harmony and respect with the local people? As an expatriate, is it appropriate to attempt to influence local culture, and if so then in what way?
Reverend Owen: Be yourself. Take time to settle in. Try to learn the language in easy stages. The British are as good at languages as anyone else on the planet. (We are lazy but able!) Do Greek things and go to Greek events. Make friends with the locals, but don’t try to influence the culture—you will anyway!
Corfu Magazine: You are an avid runner and bicyclist. In past articles you have written about the connection you feel with God whilst exercising. How did you feel running and bicycling on Corfu? Did the beauty of Corfu’s natural environment whilst exercising somehow enhance your relationship with God, and if so then in what way?
Reverend Owen: Running and cycling keep me sane. They are a marvellous stress-buster and de-toxifier. So I continually thank God for giving them to me, and what better time to say a vertical ‘thank-you’ than when doing them. However, if you want to admire the beauty of the country and the mountains of Corfu I am afraid you have to go uphill occasionally, but why pay money to a gym when you can pedal up Troumbeta?
Corfu Magazine: What are your hopes for the future of Holy Trinity Anglican Church?
Reverend Owen: I hope 'HTC' will continue to hold together a wide range of people from the traditional Anglican type to the more charismatically minded, and all stations in between. I hope no one group will try to dominate the others. i.e. I hope HTC will be true to its identity.
Corfu Magazine: What do you consider your most significant accomplishment as Chaplain of Holy Trinity?
Reverend Owen: I wouldn’t want to be my own judge on this. But I would like to think I have helped the church to set a vision for its growth north and south into Corfu and beyond. The other thing I have tried to do is to strengthen the biblical theological foundation of the congregation. I may have only partially succeeded on that one.
Corfu Magazine: What advice would you give to your successor?
Reverend Owen: Take your time getting into it. Be yourself- see how your own gifts and ministry will fit in to what you have inherited and then deliver without fear!
Corfu Magazine: Whist on Corfu, what contact did you have with other religious leaders? Did those contacts influence your religious perspective? If so, then in what way?
Reverend Owen: Much. The Greek Evangelical Church and the Roman Catholic Church have been good and close friends and we have done a lot together . The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January and the Womens’ World Day of Prayer in March have always been ecumenical events. We have some contact with the Orthodox Church. But it is only just beginning to really get off the ground after five years! However, I always try to take part in the Orthodox processions. Corfu is a significant religious meeting point between the Eastern and Western church.
Corfu Magazine: What single message would you like to impart to your congregation and the people of Corfu at large upon leaving?
Reverend Owen: To the congregation I would say: many thanks for all you have done. Please let me fade from view as quickly as possible and do gather round and support my successor. To the rest of the Brits - (10,000?) - we are a significant minority on this island but still ‘guests’. What we model by our expatriate life style will reflect what we British are made of. May it be good!
Corfu Magazine: What will you miss most about Corfu?
Reverend Owen: The sea journeys to Igoumenitsa and Paxos...rarely a rough crossing and beautiful coastlines.
Corfu Magazine: What will you miss least?
Reverend Owen: Some of the driving on the Gouvia ‘race-track’ dual carriageway.
Corfu Magazine: What do you like most about the Corfiot people?
Reverend Owen: They are approachable. I have been impressed by their kind support of the English in bereavement situations. The way they have turned out for English funerals, especially in the villages, has touched me deeply.
Corfu Magazine: What is your favourite restaurant and/or favourite Greek dish?
Reverend Owen: I am afraid it’s ‘kotopoulo souvlaki’ or ‘kalamari and chips’. I’m no connoisseur of food! I have five first equal tavernas in the Kontokali area + the ‘Drop Inn' at Pyrgi of course.
Corfu Magazine: Your favourite beach?
Reverend Owen: Acharavi
Without a doubt, Reverend Owen, known locally as simply 'Clifford' has given selfless service not only to Holy Trinity, and to those associated with the church, but he has been a willing friend to all. We at Corfu Magazine and Happy Holidays Corfu wish him well and God's speed!
Interview with Reverend Dr. Clifford Owen - Corfu Magazine - Vol. 4, No. 1, September 15, 2008
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