A PRIEST who has served at one of Wokingham town’s best-known churches for 50 years was the guest of honour at a special service.
The Revd Colin James has held various roles at All Saints starting as a lay minister in 1969 before being ordained as a deacon in 1996.
A year later, he was ordained to the priesthood and continued to serve at the parish which gathered this week to recognise his unique service.
Colin, 80, is a familiar face around the town and many non-church members, as well as the congregation, turned out for the presentation.
“One of the things I love about All Saints is we keep the church open all week and that we are here to serve the community,” he said.
“I am always bumping into people whenever I am out who are always pleasant and happy to stop for a chat.”
Colin became a member of the parish when he moved to Wokingham to work for the Berkshire Education Department. As well as being a lay reader, he worked full-time in charge of higher and further education.
After taking early retirement, he felt called to play a more permanent role at All Saints and was ordained as a deacon before entering the priesthood.
One of the highlights over the past 50 years he said was campaigning for women’s ordination in the Church of England.
“All Saints is a very inclusive and loving church,” he added.
“It gave me great satisfaction when women were finally ordained and then we saw women bishops.
“Another milestone was the opening of the Cornerstone Centre which is a great asset for the community as well as the church. It has made the church more flexible and adaptable.”
And Colin said that he particularly enjoyed ministering to people who often wandered into the church as well as those who suffered the loss and grief on the death of a loved one.
“I have conducted many funerals. This is a time when people are often in despair and burdened with grief. It is important to reach out to people in their time of need.
“I have often spoken with people who come to the church with problems who just need someone to listen to them and pray with them. Some people think church is just for Sunday but that is not the case at All Saints.”
Colin was presented with a card and gift from the church community and received a standing ovation. There was a short talk given by Rosemary Tucker about his involvement in the national campaign for the ordination of women to the priesthood.
