Three Days to Remember
--- Page the Third and Last---
This developing feature records the various events in the United Benefice and elsewhere
during the three days from Friday, June 23rd to Sunday, June 25th, 2012.
During that time a concert, a bumper farewell party (see below for the second instalment of this epic event!)
and a final Sunday service at St Mary's marked the imminent departure of our vicar,
Fr Neil Kelley, for pastures new, after thirteen years as incumbent at St Faith's and St Mary's.
The same days saw the ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood of Fr Ged Callacher,
our one-time organist and long-time friend and colleague: his ordination
and first Mass were attended by more than a few of the folk of both parishes.
The Final Farewells
Joan Tudhope writes about the party and the presentations
With a
brightly festooned hall, beautifully laid out tables
and the sight of a hog roast on a spit in place on
the stage, all was set fair for a great
evening.
Party goers arrived bringing an array of drinks and
the party commenced. Once the hog roast was
served - and good it was too,
accompanied by salads of various kind - and people
had eaten and had second helpings, ten people, led
by Churchwarden Maureen Madden, took to the stage.
Each held a letter
which formed, when they were displayed in order, the
words 'Our Father', referring to Fr. Neil.
Maureen used each letter to begin a word describing
the attributes, or otherwise, of Fr, Neil. They were: Outrageous;
Unique;
Ridiculous;
Flattering;
Attractive;
High
Standards; Exasperating
(after teasing him that it stood for Evangelical!).. and
Remembered
... always!
A
cheque was then presented to Fr. Neil, to which both
congregations had contributed, to thank him for all he
had contributed to our two churches during his
13 years as incumbent.
An eloquent response was made by Fr. Neil,
following which the party people were invited to
return to the food table to partake of dessert.
Various
party turns, song and poetry, monologue and duets,
were performed, and were enjoyed by all present. The
finale of the evening
was a firework display in the vicarage garden, and
despite the inclement weather all returned home having
had a great time and given Fr. Neil a good send off.
Thanks again to Kathy Zimak and Lillie Wilmot for the pictures. They say the party isn't over until the fat lady sings, but in this case it was Fr Dennis...
And Finally...
Chris Price writes
The next morning, at 11.00 am in Saint Mary's Church, Fr Neil celebrated the Eucharist for the last time.
A packed church witnessed the dignified and prayerful ritual which Fr Neil has made his own,
punctuated by a powerful farewell sermon (see the link at the foot of this page for the text of this).
There was a trumpeter to sound the retreat, and presentations from the children of our churches.
Then, at the end of the mass, in a moving and unique ceremony, before the altar,
the vicar removed his chasuble and vested Revd Denise McDougall, Honorary Assistant Curate,
who will chair the Ministry Team during the interregnum which was about to begin, with it.
Finally, accompanied by the Churchwardens of both churches, he walked slowly to the back of the church,
passed the church keys to them and left in silence through the doors. After this solemn ritual,
we were all glad of the traditional glass of 'bubbly' in the Church Hall and a chance to say a last
farewell at the end of thirteen eventful years in the life of our United Benefice.
Kathy Zimak's pictures capture the mood of this very special occasion.
Back to the first page
Back to the second page
Read Fr Neil's final sermon
Milestones from a Ministry
(year-by year highlights of the events between 1999 and 2012)
Home page