03/07/2023
A message from Rev Ian.
You may know that I reached the grand age of 66 in April of this year. You will also know that Christine’s health isn’t what we would wish it to be.
After 28 years in Caistor and 36 years of Ordained ministry, I have spoken with the Bishop of Grimsby and told him of my decision to take retirement.
As you can imagine this was a difficult decision to make and one that was made with much prayer and thought.
It will be very painful for us to leave the parishes of the Caistor Group. It has been our home and the place where we have lived the longest in our lives. Richard and Catherine came as young children and they now have families of their own.
Ideally, we would just like to slip away quietly but realise this isn’t possible.
My thoughts are that my last Sunday would be with a joint service on the evening of September 24th. I will take two weeks holiday leave and 4 weeks pre-retirement leave after that so I will officially retire on 31st October – providing the bishop agrees.
We will be moving to a new home in Scawby Brook (the posh end of Brigg) not far from Aldi!
People have been exceedingly generous to us and to our family over the past 28 years so I would respectfully ask that there be no “parting gifts – other than your best wishes and prayers!
There will be much work to do in the meantime – not least with the transfer of our duties to others. We will be seeking volunteers!
I know that I will leave the parish in the capable hands of Revd Catherine of whom it has been the greatest privilege for me to mentor and see her grow into a capable and talented priest. She has taught me a great deal for which I am truly grateful
The Rural Dean will, I know, want to be involved in the life of the parishes as they move into the next generation of church life.
We will leave with a heavy heart but you will all be in our thoughts and prayers.
With much love,