CLERGYMAN and farmer for much of the 20th century, Herefordshire’s noted ‘Farming Parson’ has ministered to his flock for an astonishing 75 years.

Hale and hearty at the age of 100, the Rev William Tavernor has celebrated his major milestone birthday surrounded by family and friends at a New Year's Eve party at home in Kingsland, including his seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and another on the way. The following morning a special service in his parish church was conducted by the Rev Julie Reade.

Ordained at Ledbury in 1941, Mr Tavernor has tended his parishioners – and his glebeland – within the Hereford diocese for most of his priesthood, spending just three years of the 75 at a country church near Kidderminster. He chuckles when he considers the choirboys who sang at his ordination would now be getting on for 90.

And he has now been accepted as a record breaker after he conducted a marriage service for grandson, Jack Tavernor and bride, Becky Floate at the age of 98 in his old parish in south Shropshire, Bettws-y-Crwyn.

A Staffordshire farmer’s son, he drew on his love of the land to farm the glebeland which traditionally accompanied an incumbent’s parish. "I was the last of a dying breed," he said. "I was known as The Farming Parson. This combination helped him to connect with farmers, an opportunity to chew the fat on market days, and it boosted a meagre stipend.

"The glebe was for the clergyman’s horse, but I didn’t ride a horse so I farmed with cattle and sheep. That enabled me to run a car.

"I was the last priest to farm his own glebeland."

He continued: "Farming was inbred in me, and two of my children have gone into farming." His daughter Meg and her husband run Welsh Black cattle on their Lucton farm, while his son, Peter breeds Shropshire sheep. "My grandfather and my father bred Shropshire sheep," he said. "In fact my family are carrying on with both occupations, several of them are churchwardens."

His life has been varied. As well as his work as parish priest and man of the soil, he also taught physics to pupils at Lucton School. During the Cold War, he gave Civil Defence lectures: "It’s been very nice to have had a varied life." Mr Tavernor recognises that his old school headmaster in Walsall was a major influence. "H.M. Butler influenced quite a few pupils – he was an uncle of Rab Butler, the great educational man." Durham University beckoned, and later theological college in Lichfield.

His first curacy was spent in Ledbury, then a parish near Kidderminster, before moving back to the Hereford diocese. He spent seven years as vicar at Upton Bishop, eight years at Aymestrey, 23 in Canon Pyon, in each case happily provided with glebe. He has since enjoyed 25 years of “working retirement” helping at Kingsland. "I packed up taking services two years ago," he said. However, 18 months ago at the venerable age of 98, Mr Tavernor returned to his old parish in south Shropshire, Bettws-y-Crwyn, to conduct a marriage service for grandson, Jack Tavernor and bride, Becky Floate assisted by her grandfather, the Rev Herbert Floate. The story was reported in the Church Times, complete with cartoon reflecting the two clerics’ joint age of 188 years with 124 collective years of ministry between them.

An unexpected find awaited the Tavernor family in the little church. There on the lectern lay the 1928 prayer book Mr Tavernor had left behind more than 70 years earlier.

While in post-war Bettws-y-Crwyn, he recalled the “abominably bad” winter of 1947 when vicar and parishioners were snowbound for 12 weeks. “That’s what started the farming,” he said. “I bought some Hereford cross cattle and began farming.”

There was a time of deep sadness for Mr Tavernor with the death of his first wife who had helped set him on his way as a country parish priest. Later, he was introduced to Vida, who was to become his second wife, and mother of Meg.

"We were brought together by friends, she was single and had no family and I had three children," he said. After their wedding in Hereford Cathedral, Vida was strongly supportive of her husband’s work, while also demonstrating a great flair for stage productions.

When Mr Tavernor spoke to his congregation at the celebration service five years ago, he noted: "It is sad that my wife, Vida, whom many of you will remember and who shared in my ministry for 50 years, did not live to be with us today."

Five years on, he still enjoys his daily walks, taking with him his trusty thumbstick – never a walking stick – and has suggestions for a long and healthy life.

"When I boil up my vegetables, cabbages and carrots, I drink the water."

It would be a shame if the Farming Parson’s 100th birthday toast was drunk in nothing stronger than sprout water.