The purpose of this column is to feature parishioners of St. Margaret's of Antioch Parish.

It has been our experience that often we, as parishioners, do not know each other by name or that we hardly know those who sit immediately in front of us; to the back of us; or to the side of us in church. In each issue of St. Margaret's News, a parishioner (or a married couple) will be featured so that we can get to know more about each other.

However, because this issue has already missed it's printing deadline, (interviews could not be completed in time fpr printing) this issue features our own Rector – The Rev. Canon Christopher Drakes -- with respect to his recent elevation to the status of a member of Holy Trinity Cathedral Chapter with the style of Canon

The Rev. Canon Drakes was installed into the stall of St. Cuthbert at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on December 27, 1998.

Born in Carrington's Village, St. Michael, Barbados, in January 1935, Christopher St. Clair Drakes along with his parents and his seven other siblings emigrated to Trinidad when he was 13 years old. He has made his home in Trinidad ever since, marrying Cynthia Veronica Hernandez at the age of 25. The union has produced eight offspring, four girls and four boys.

He is now the proud grandfather of three beautiful granddaughters.

Canon Drakes became Rector of St. Margaret's in November 1995 after the Parish had been without an incumbent for several years. Along with the incumbency of St. Margaret's came the responsibility of being Chaplain to the Port of Spain General Hospital. He had previously served as Assistant Curate of St. Paul's Parish, San Fernando, and as Rector of St. Patrick's, Tobago (1972 – 1980) and St. James The Just (1980 – 1995). In October 1997, after nearly two years at St. Margaret's, he was also made Priest-in-Charge of Christ Church Parish, the Parish which borders St. Margaret's to the north.

But the responsibility of two parishes is more than just writing sermons and saying mass in the various congregations. Between the two parishes, there are four primary schools and they all require the attention of the Manager (as the incumbent is called).

Additionally, Canon Drakes has the responsibility of being the Warden of the Lay Ministers of the Diocese and sits on several Regional and Diocesan Boards and Committees.

Nevertheless, Canon is quite capable of managing his entire responsibility but, as one can imagine, there can be some hiccups along the way and, at times, not everything goes as smoothly as planned. For example, weddings and funerals cannot always be planned to fit neatly in his busy schedule. Other unexpected situations can be impending deaths, for which immediate attention is demanded or the requests of the needy who come to the Rectory or the Parish Office to see "Father".

Canon is fortunate to have a mature family which doesn't place as much demand on his time as in the past and it is this family support on which he relies in emergencies and when the going gets tough. Canon recently stated that he often gets only five hours of sleep each night - and that is a lot. His family tries to get him to take more rest but he often retorts that the priesthood is his life, a 24-hour job, to which he is committed and to which they (the family) should be accustomed.

There are also the parishioners who 'take care of him' by looking out for signs of stress and advising rest. Of course, he ignores those suggestions too until 'water more than flour'. It was this same stubbornness than sent him to P O S General Hospital a few years ago because, as a diabetic, his blood sugar level had increased to dangerous levels. Before hospitalization, he seldom took his annual vacations. Since then, he has seen the wisdom in taking a few weeks off each year for rest and relaxation.

At a more personal level, Canon is an avid reader of anything educational (especially theological topics, of course) and has a large library of reading material. He never throws away a book, regardless of how old it gets. His collection of newspaper clippings - reference material for sermons and the like - has also grown over the years. Now, he has a new source for his readings; the internet. While others sleep, he surfs the net so that his electronic reading collection now occupies several floppy discs and his list of electronic bookmarks is longer than any other family member's. His meticulous manner is noticeable during most aspects of the service, especially post-communion, when he does the ablutions (cleanses the chalice and other sacred vessels) with detail.

Canon has other hobbies such as electronics, photography, collecting bottles (all shapes and sizes) and sport in general. He also has a penchant for writing with fine pens - fountain pens only, please. He gets irritated when family members speak too much dialect: standard English is preferred.

Next year, 2000, Canon attains the age of retirement. He and his wife, Cynthia Snr., will also be celebrating forty years of marriage. It is a time which he looks forward to; a time when he can finally call it a day and retire with his wife (already retired) to a small house somewhere in the country on a large piece of land near to the sea ... and near to his God.

(c)1999