It’s not all cream tea and communion at the vicarage
Aisha Townsend tells about her Dad's life as a vicar and magician
Life as a youngling for me can be described in two words “church mouse”. This is the description of me and my younger brother scurrying around behind the organ and in the cloisters, in the vestry and the ladies chapel while my dad taught the sparse congregation his idea of Christianity. He was not going to conform to the typical English priest stereotype; I’m sure skateboarding around the church, playing the electric guitar and performing mental illusions is not something that immediately springs to mind when you think of an Anglican priest. But my brother and I were very content to play knights and dragons around this huge fantasy building and then be treated to fair trade chocolate and squash after the service. Yes, there were fetes to attend and “mother’s union” coffee mornings but our dad always seemed to bring a twist to such occasions. Our mother was equally as unusual as a vicars wife, as she was not a Christian, hated cooking, loved clubbing and never wore big flowery hats.
Dad grew more and more discontent with the church
As the years went by dad grew more and more discontent with the church and the unfortunate people who inhabited the “Churchian” population (as he called them), he could see that the heart of the church was becoming centred in selfish, snobby exclusiveness. People still appreciated the work dad did, the special funerals he did with bubbles representing their souls, the lovely Celtic and Buddhist blessings he did for marriages and the charity events he did with his unusual style of magic. But something was missing... I think it was his freedom. The tight fisted hand of the church was squeezing the life out of him, we needed to escape.
Then, one day, dad made the radical and unexpected decision to leave his job and follow a new path doing magic full time and religious and non-religious ceremonies of any type. This was the make or break point because he was doing something he loved, but before we had most of our bills paid for us, a large house, and a good salary. He was self employed and this meant money was a constant bother, we went from staying in Jodie’s (dad’s new wife) sister’s house, to our own smaller house in an old council house, it was dirty and horrible, the paint was peeling of the walls, we found a dead bird under the sink and everything was either broken or nearly broken. But family came to rescue; we stripped the house then breathed a kiss of fresh new life to its crumbling walls.
Dad has now joined the order of bards, ovates and druids and has written 3 books and has two on the go at the moment about his life, religion and the magic of the mind. He has had countless interviews about his life style and books, many endorsements from famous magicians and priests, has appeared in 12 magazines, many newspaper articles about him and countless people who want to tear him down but I know that he is doing what makes him happy and for that I am very proud.
www.magicofsoul.com - Mark Townsend's webpage for anyone interested! "Amazing and Inspirational!" Uri Geller "A magical experience that reaches heart and soul!” Jeff McBride "Brings wonder back to life" Eugene Burger
