100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 165 : Tom

I was in Nottingham on Wednesday, wandering around the Lace Market. Dominating the Lace Market cityscape is the beautiful church of St Mary the Virgin.

It is a very photogenic building and I quite often have a walk around it's gardens.

The church doors were open and as I walked in I saw Tom sat at a desk doing some paperwork.

"Is it OK if I take some pictures?" I asked

"Of course"replied Tom "take as many as you want"

So I took some pictures of the beautiful stained glass windows and admired the beauty of inside the church.

After a few shots I approached Tom and started a conversation with him.

"Are you the vicar of the church"

"Yes I am the Reverend Tom Gillum"

During our chat, I learned that Tom had been at St Mary's for a year and was still getting to know the city of Nottingham. He has been a vicar for over 30 years and his previous parish was in London . We talked about Arnold where I live and how the town had changed.

I then introduced the concept of 100 strangers to Tom.

"A bit like the humans of New York?" said Tom, I have the book . One of his children had given it to him (I think)

I asked Tom if he would step out of the church and stand by the walls of the church as the light and backdrop would make a great pic. He had been doing some work at his desk, preparing for the busy Easter weekend.

I took several shots of Tom, and then we returned to his desk and I took some shots there too.

I gave Tom a card and shook his hand, He said it had been really nice meeting me and said he looked forward to seeing the pictures

Thanks for being stranger 165 Tom.

Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/

My own strangers can be seen here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168

[FBailey]

What a super story and lovely portrait Phil - none of my strangers have ever heard of the project:)

[Annie D]

great story and portrait Phil

[Dione Giorgio]

I liked reading your narrative, Phil. Where you ended by saying that he looked forward to seeing the pictures, I thought he was going to say that he looked forward to seeing you in church, haha. Great shot and the Rev. has a wonderful smile all over his face.

[Ivan]

Super portrait of Tom, Phil, he looks someone you can talk to...fav

[Allison Williams]

Wonderful detail. Great smile.

[Alison Hewitt Bailey]

I like how you've placed him in the context of the building where he works. He looks as if he has a bit of an impish sense of humour. Fab portrait as always.

[Phil Howcroft]

@dulciknit I did a few shots in church on a wide open aperture, I might post one of these as an extra in a few days as they were really good :)

@allie912 thank you ever so much alison

@ivan thank you ivan

@sangwann thak you for your lovely words dione

@annied thanks annie :)

@fbailey felicity, thanks for your regular visits and comments, it is really appreciated

[Hazel]

Fav - a very attractive smile!