Rev. Paul M. Thompson

He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the son of Dr. Paul M. Thompson and Byrd Austell Thompson. His father died when he was 2 ½ and he grew up in Spartanburg, spending summers in Citronelle, Alabama with his grandparents.

He graduated from Gulfport High School, then from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee in 1958. He attended the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Ma. graduating with an M.Div in 1962.

After his marriage to his wife Sallie, "Bunny" his ministry began in Mississippi in the turbulent 60's of the Civil Rights movement. He served several churches there, and in Greenville was Vicar of one of the two all black congregations in Mississippi. Ministry in the Diocese of Washington at St. James in Bowie, Maryland followed before he became Rector of St. Michael's in Brattleboro, Vt where he remained until his retirement to Cummaquid in 1998. While in the Diocese of Washington he enjoyed being a Nave Clergyperson at the Washington National Cathedral once a month, greeting visitors and being available for prayer. In Vermont in addition to a busy parish ministry he learned to ski and was active in the Brattleboro Hockey Association with son lan.

He and Bunny loved to travel and highlights were trips to Ireland, especially the Isle of lona, a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and an amazing trip to Egypt including a cruise down the Nile.

After moving to the Cape he did supply work at various churches, was an associate at St. Peter's Osterville, and Priest in Charge for various months or weeks at St. Andrew's by the Sea, a summer chapel in Hyannisport.

He loved time with his family, especially his two adored grandchildren, and found nurture in gardening, reading, cooking, and Celtic studies, including a love of everything Scottish! He was Chaplain to Clan MacTavish/Thompson, writing articles on Celtic spirituality for their newsletter. He was a member of the Osterville Men's Club, active in the Highland Light Scottish Society and he and Bunny were members of the Barnstable Yacht Club.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years Sallie McClenahan Thompson, his daughter Sallie Thompson and son and daughter in law lan and Ali Thompson and grandchildren Laurel and Finn. He also leaves his brother and sister in law Bob and Rebecca McClenahan, niece and nephew Amanda and Ted, all of Cape Cod, and many cousins and family mostly in the south.

At his request there will be no calling hours. There will be a Celebration of his Life on Friday, June 2nd at 2 p.m. at St. Andrew's by the Sea, Hyannisport. In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to St. Mary's Barnstable, St. Andrew's by the Sea or to the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation/Davenport Mugar Cancer Center in Hyannis.