Thank you to everyone who attended the special Evensong service at St Martin’s on 30th November to say farewell to our wonderful Rector, Revd Canon Christine Dale, who has retired after twenty one fantastic years, and to wish her and Simon every happiness in the future.
Although the service was in St Martin’s (where Christine’s induction service took place in November 2002 and where she and Simon were married the following year) organisation was very much a joint effort by the five churches in the Benefice. The team of sidesmen worked hard to find space for the 260 people who attended. Apologies to a few who had to stand at the back of the church, probably caused by the chairs being used to extend the space in the chancel to accommodate the choir, augmented by singers from Woolton Hill, Highclere and Ashmansworth!
It was particularly special that the Bishop of Basingstoke, the Right Reverend David Williams, who preached the sermon, and the Reverend David Roche, Area Dean, were able to join us. Special thanks to them and also the many others who worked hard to make the service such a success, in particular Ann Harris, virger, Georgie Robertson who conducted the choir and Hugh Cobbe, organist.
Thank you also to the very many who contributed so generously to the collection which enabled Andrew Colville, on behalf of the churches, to present a cheque and other gifts to Christine immediately after the service. This was followed by tributes from Katy Bartlett, Headteacher of St Martin’s School, Bishop David, Revd David, Simon and a response from Christine.
We then enjoyed refreshments, including champagne (very generously given by an anonymous donor) and canapes prepared by numerous volunteers under the direction of Sarah Ede, whose organisational skills had been recognised earlier by Simon who invested her with a ‘drinks monitor’ badge!
The evening was a very fitting tribute to all that Christine has achieved during her twenty one years as Rector, not just during all the regular Sunday services that she has taken but through her work with the countless families she has touched: in the schools, preparing and performing baptisms, weddings, funerals and other pastoral work. We all owe her an enormous debt of gratitude.
We now enter a period of ‘interregnum’ during which the churchwardens will work with the Diocese to identify and recruit a new Rector. During this period we are truly fortunate to be able to rely on our Associate Priest, Very Revd Professor Chris Hancock, and Licensed Lay Minister, Suki Coe, so that together we can continue services in our five churches and our mission of making Christ known in our communities.
…. and here is Christine’s letter, which although formally addressed to churchwardens is meant for everyone who was involved in the service and/or contributed to the presents