Ian E. A. Booth
Individual, P105
Biography
The Venerable Ian E. A. Booth, Th.LRector of St. John’s Church, 1974-1981
Ian Edgar Arthur Booth (24.4.1928 - 29.1.2022) trained for ordination at Moore Theological College, Sydney. In Sydney he served as Curate of St Michael’s Wollongong and Priest in-Charge of St. Luke’s The Oaks and Burragorang Valley. He continued his service with the Bush Church Aid Society, serving at St Michael and All Angels, Ceduna and St Paul’s Orroroo. He moved on to St Peter’s Peterborough. Ian was then called to Tasmania, initially serving in the Parish of St Peter’s Oatlands, then the Parish of St Paul’s Launceston, where he also provided chaplaincy to the Launceston General Hospital. A period as Victorian Secretary of B.C.A. (covering SA, Vic and Tas) preceded a call back to Tasmania where he served subsequently in the parishes of St John’s Devonport, St John ‘s Launceston, St Andrew’s Evandale and finally St George’s Battery Point
In his initial time of service in Tasmania he was heavily involved in the development of Diocesan Youth Ministry and Army Chaplaincy as part of the Citizen’s Military Force (now the Army Reserve) where he achieved the rank of Major. In his second period of service in Tasmania he served, first as a Canon of St. David’s Cathedral, then was appointed Archdeacon of Launceston and subsequently Archdeacon of Hobart. Ministry didn’t conclude in his retirement; Ian supported ministry in Port Sorell and Latrobe and upon moving to Launceston, St Mark’s on the Hill, St James Franklin Village and subsequently as a parishioner of Holy Trinity Launceston.
At the time of his death, he carried the honorific title of Archdeacon (Emeritus). Archdeacon Booth died on 29th January 2022 in Launceston. At the time, he was survived by his widow Val and sons Graham, Kevin and Michael and their families. A memorial service took place at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Launceston on 16th February 2022. The biographical notes on his life are reprinted from the Order of Service for that occasion.
Ever the pastor, mentor and missioner Priest, “Well done good and faithful servant.. “ Ian and Val Booth, likely in the 1960s.
Valerie Booth went to the Lord in September 2023. One of their sons, Phillip, had died many years earlier.
New Rector – St. John’s Parish Messenger, Jun. 1974
The Bishop has announced that the Reverend Ian Booth, Th.L, at present rector of St John’s, Devonport, has accepted nomination to the parish of St John Launceston.
His training for ordination took place at Moore Theological College, Sydney. Ian Booth has served as Curate of Wollongong and Curate in Charge of the Oaks, both in the Diocese of Sydney. With the Bush Church Aid Society, he served at Ceduna, Orroroo, and prior to his appointment to Devonport, a period as Victorian Secretary of B.C.A.
He and his wife Valerie have four sons, Graham, a student at the University of Tasmania, Phillip, at present preparing for his matriculation, and Kevin and Michael aged twelve and nine respectively.
Mr Booth will take up his work at St John’s late in September. Until the induction of the new rector, the ministry of the parish will be in the care of the Revd Harry Ikin and the Revd David Lewis.