Henry George Tyler O.B.E. was vicar for Husthwaite, Carlton Husthwaite and Birdforth from 1963 to 1977. Many local people recalled him in the Reminiscences of Husthwaite booklets. They recalled how much his previous work in the army influenced his time here. He had been a regular army padre for 24 years and had done service in Norway, Egypt, Burma and Korea as well as peacetime service in Germany and Hong Kong. John Parfect remembered “a conversation we once had about the future of the church. He replied that this was his Chindit experience – no buildings. He carried the church in his two ammunition pouches. One for the host, the other for the wine. Re-supply was by air – parachutes bringing food, ammunition and his host and wine! The church was him and the soldiers in his column.”
Peter Hutchinson wrote “The Reverend Tyler preached in a charismatic way – always giving meaning to the complex words and images - drawing upon his experience from extensive travels – including the Holy Land - while serving as a Padre. He always advocated faith over religion and enhanced links to the Chapel”.
His widow Kathleen helped organise a memorial plaque to him in the church. She herself was active in village activities such as the Gardening Club and the Friday Fellowship for younger people. Linda Davison wrote “she was anxious to encourage an understanding of the Christian Faith in the young in a less formal atmosphere than a conventional Sunday School.”