Sunday 26^th October 2008 was a notable day in Gillingham as Alan and Margery said their goodbyes after eight and a half years with Alan as Rector. The Church was packed for the Eucharist which included a sermon by a former curate of Alan's in Verwood who accompanied him to Gillingham, Harvey Gibbons, and children from St. Mary's School, a new CEVA primary school in the town opened during Alan's time with us, singing.

But perhaps it's best left to Alan to describe the day ...

The Rector Writes

Sunday October 26th was for us a momentous and never-to-be-forgotten occasion. Thank you St Mary’s and St Simon and St Jude’s for hosting the celebrations of thirty-three years of ministry in the Diocese of Salisbury, eight and a half of which have been served in this Benefice.

Friends from parishes from all over Dorset and beyond joined us: to mention a few – West Knighton, Broadmayne, Piddletrenthide, Hooke, Powerstock, Winterborne Stickland, Winterborne Houghton, Dorchester, Verwood, West Stour, Todber, Christchurch, Cranborne and Sturminster Marshall. Friends and family travelled from Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Portsmouth, Chatham and London. It was a truly emotional and unforgettable celebration of life and ministry in the service of Our Lord.

The Eucharist in the morning at St Mary’s, and in the evening at St Simon & St Jude’s Patronal Festival were expressions of all we have accomplished as a Benefice for God and his Kingdom. Our work and ministry together in and through the influence of the Holy Spirit has uplifted the Church to a state of true Godliness. So many people have been touched and blessed by our shared ministry. God has and is working powerfully through the great team of people who are engaged in the Ministry of Christ in the Parishes of Gillingham and Milton-on-Stour.

Thank you for the splendid lunch at St Mary’s School; the result of good planning and the flair of the Social Committee and the Catering Team - a great spread and wonderful company. Thank you also for the cake and wine at St Simon & St Jude’s, a fitting end to the day.

Margery and I would like to thank you all. We are speechless and feel totally unworthy of the very generous cheques we received, together with the numerous gifts you gave us. We have been completely overwhelmed by your generosity and the messages of love and good wishes we have received.

The days following the celebration have been filled with moving and sorting ourselves out and have, of course, been a challenge! Thanks to our family we unpacked in twenty-four hours! Consequently we now can’t find things when we need them! However, ‘Erznmine’ is beginning to feel like home, although I have to confess at the moment I am feeling lost! I am wondering who I am!

We move on and I am sure the future has much in store for us. We thank God for what has been and all the wonderful people He has given us to serve over all these years. We look forward to and embrace the future and of course, hope to see you all from time to time.

With love and best wishes and once again a big ‘Thank you’.

With every Blessing for Christmas and for all that awaits you in 2009.

(from "Impact" for December, 2008)