On Thursday Richard, our Rector retired.
Richard was with us for sixteen and a half years and looked after us well. We are a large (in area) benefice consisting of eleven parishes with eleven ancient churches; and I really mean ancient! Richard not only worked very hard to keep all these unique churches going despite many set-backs but also at the same time, managed to get us to think of ourselves as a team; a ‘federation’ of parishes. We help each other out whenever possible. He gave us thought-provoking sermons each week. His constant message was that all people are equal in the sight of God and all should have equal rights and opportunities. He is a fairly shy and self-effacing man but who also would not put up with thoughtless, careless and bad behaviour from anyone. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of films and often quoted from them in his sermons. He is a talented artist and has also written a book about a pilgrimage he made in France. He can also tell the most awful and funny jokes! He supported all our individual fund-raising efforts and provided us and our churches with all sorts of different things that have been of invaluable service. He cleaned, polished, mended, tidied and adorned our church buildings. He designed our website and kept it up-to-date. He edited our benefice magazine and often wrote most of the copy, got people to advertise in it and sent it off to be printed. He ran a coffee morning once a month in his home and made marmalade, cakes and breads for us. He fought on our behalf with anyone who tried to make our lives more difficult. He researched the history of all our churches and was extremely knowledgeable about their architecture. At the centenary of the start of World War I he presented each of our churches with a Remembrance folder containing information on all the men (and women) from each parish who are mentioned on the war memorials.
This is only a fraction of all he has done for us. Like children, we accepted it all and often took him for granted. We now have to fend for ourselves for goodness knows how long.
Richard’s last service was the mid-week said Eucharist at 9.00 am on Thursday at Ilketshall St Margaret’s church. Usually, there are less than ten people who attend this service. This Thursday the church was nearly full with representatives from most of the churches in the benefice. Richard asked us where we’d all been for the past 16 years! A good question! After the service we presented him with a gift and sang happy birthday to him. We had sherry to drink and Pam had made a delicious fruit cake. We chatted and laughed and then it was over.
womanseyeview said:
What a loving tribute to a man who sounds fascinating, hard working and committed- I can see why he will be missed. Thanks for sharing this since in a world that often seems endlessly selfish it’s always nice to be reminded that’s not always the case.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Carol.
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markspitzerdesigns said:
Not easy to replace people like that – Good Luck !
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Mark.
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margaret21 said:
So sad for you all when someone you value so much, and who has been such a cornerstone, moves on. But he seems to have left a strong community behind. Let’s hope your interregnum isn’t too long!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Margaret. We have been preparing for it for some months as you can imagine.
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susanpoozan said:
What a very special man, he will be sadly missed.
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KerryCan said:
What a man! You’ve been lucky to enjoy his good works for so long but, boy, will you miss him! I hope he’ll continue to live in the area and be a part of your lives? This is a lovely tribute . . .
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Kerry. He’ll be living here for a while but will eventually move elsewhere, once he finds a house he can afford. He’s currently in the home that goes with the job. Now he’s retired he’ll have to move out.
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Jill Weatherholt said:
What a lovely tribute to a man who’s work so hard to honor his God and his community. Wishing him the best in his new adventures. xo
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you very much, Jill xx
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quietsolopursuits said:
It sounds like he will be missed by all. I hope that the next person to hold his position will be as good or better.
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Liz said:
How lucky you and the parish have been to have such a person as Richard in your lives – he will clearly be much missed. I am a firm believer that life works like chapters of a book – the one in which Richard has featured has been long, happy and rich. The perfect set-up for the turn of the page and the next part of the adventure for your community.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you Liz. Yes, we have been preparing for this for some time and are just about ready for the challenge! We will have to wait at least 18 months for a replacement and don’t know yet whether he/she will be part-time or full-time.
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Liz said:
Gosh, that is a long time to wait – it will be a rather turbulent transition then. It sounds like you have a strong community though, and I am sure everyone will deal with it together.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you Liz. It won’t be an easy time but we are all willing to work to keep all the churches going.
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quercuscommunity said:
I hope you find a suitable replacement. 🙂
Sound like it’s going to be difficult to fill his shoes.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Simon. We will have to wait 18 months or more until a replacement is found and even then he/she may be only part-time 😦
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quercuscommunity said:
Start building a Wicker Man – they’ll soon have someone new to save you from paganism.
On a more serious note, that does seem a long time. Is there a shortage of vicars?
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Clare Pooley said:
Haha! Yes, there is a shortage of vicars but it is usual for the interregnum to last for some while. It gives us time to think about what kind of vicar we want/need.
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quercuscommunity said:
I’d just ask for another like the one you just had – he seems alright to me. Trouble is they probably don’t have one. 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
🙂
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Lavinia Ross said:
Your post is a wonderful tribute to Richard, Clare. It does sound like it will be hard to replace him, as are all good, hardworking people in such a position of responsibility. Best of luck.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you very much, Lavinia.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
He sounds like a hard person to lose. I pity the one who has to try to fill his shoes.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Allen. By the time the interregnum has lasted 18 months or more we will be glad to welcome anyone willing to take us on!
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dobetteralways said:
How often it happens that we don’t realize the extent a person impacts us until we think about our life without them.
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Clare Pooley said:
Very true – thank-you.
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Laurie Graves said:
Sounds like a wonderful person who definitely makes the world a better place. And a movie buff, too boot!
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Clare Pooley said:
Yes, indeed! Thank-you, Laurie.
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Andrea Stephenson said:
Your respect and thankfulness for Richard comes through in this lovely tribute Clare, it sounds as though he deserves his retirement!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Andrea. I think he deserves it too. I hope he finds somewhere to live soon.
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Cynthia Reyes said:
A lovely, heartfelt tribute to Richard, Clare. He sounds like a great rector. It’s obvious that he will be missed. I wish him well in his future endeavours, and wish also that your parish will get a great person to fill his shoes.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you very much, Cynthia! It is a long time since our last interregnum and in the meantime all the young people have grown up and left home and us older ones have got older; many of us have died. We will have to work hard to keep the benefice going!
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Lisa G. said:
God bless him for his devoted service! You all will be very busy keeping up with those churches.
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Clare Pooley said:
Very true! Thank-you Lisa!
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bitaboutbritain said:
That’s a beautifully written, sincere, tribute; he sounds like quite a guy – and a very hard act to follow. Perhaps, if there were more like him, at the heart of their communities, so many parishes wouldn’t be struggling with dwindling congregations.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Mike. We also have dwindling congregations! An aging population in our villages and no public transport. Most young people seem to have better things to do on a Sunday morning than come to church.
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Jane Sturgeon said:
Your words and memories ring with loving gratitude for a man who has done so much, quietly and kindly. All the very best to Richard in his new adventure. Hugs for you all as you await the ‘new’. ❤ much ❤ and hugs for you lovely Clare. ❤ xXx
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you very much, Jane Love and hugs ❤ xxXXxx ❤
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Jane Sturgeon said:
❤ xXx ❤ xXx ❤
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sherijkennedyriverside said:
He sounds amazing, and I’m sure he’ll be sorely missed. How fortunate and blessed you all were to have his touch and energy in your lives for that season.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you Sheri. It does seem odd to think he won’t be coming back.
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sherijkennedyriverside said:
I hope you find someone else wonderful in his place soon.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you Sheri. That would be good!
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Ste J said:
It sounds like he will be a tough man to replace. A wonderful tribute though, one of many, I suspect.
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Charlotte Hoather said:
Lovely tribute Claire, do you have a substitute from another village for the interregnum period? Wishing you all well with this change.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Charlotte. There are a number of retired priests in the area who have said they are willing to take some of our services. We also have the services of the rector of the benefice next to ours whenever we need him. I am sure we will cope. All the services that don’t need an ordained priest we can manage ourselves.
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Charlotte Hoather said:
Sorry I spelt your name wrong I have a friend with the alternative spelling 🙃.
That’s good to hear.
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Clare Pooley said:
Absolutely no need to apologise xx
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mypeacockbooks said:
Wow, he sounds so amazing, what a wonderful person to have. I hope he enjoys his retirement. I also hope you find a good replacement, it would be hard to fill his shoes. ❤
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you, Cat. ❤
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Wildlife Destination said:
What a cherishing tribute to a man who sounds entrancing, dedicated and submitted I can perceive any reason why he will be remembered fondly…
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you!
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navasolanature said:
Shows how saintly does and all about caring for all of you and those beautiful ancient churches that are part of our spiritual history and he has helped keep that alive too. My hubby is a Quaker so no priests! But there is a community and method to keep the lights on! But all are becoming more elderly communities so hope you can also get younger folk too.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you Georgina! Yes, we are all getting older and as all our churches in the benefice are small village churches there aren’t many more people around who might want to join us!
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Annika Perry said:
Clare, this is a beautiful tribute to Richard and you paint a moving picture of his life with you all; his love of life is evident in all he does – he seems passionate about so much and giving in all. Good luck with fending for yourselves! ❤️
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you very much, Annika.
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Richard Sutton said:
Taking up Andrea’s suggestion I found your lovely blog. Greetings from our village parish church here in West Sussex. Pastoral work is a long-term ministry. Wishing you prayerful good wishes for your interregnum, and for the search for your new Vicar to come.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank-you very much for your kind comment and for visiting my blog. I have had a quick look at your beautiful blog but didn’t have the time to comment. I will be back!
Clare
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