HUNDREDS turned up to say farewell to Revd Canon Richard Lamey, who took his last service in Wokingham on Sunday.
Rector of St Paul’s, Woosehill, and St Nicholas churches for nearly 12 years, he will shortly take up a new challenge in the north of England.
Members of all three congregations, family, friends and well-wishers gathered for a joint parish service at St Paul’s Church.
This was followed by a picnic, and games of rounders and French cricket at St Paul’s Primary School field.
The final event of the day was afternoon tea with an abundance of sandwiches and cakes.
The hall was filled with people keen to thank Father Richard, including Cllr Maria Gee, and MP for Wokingham Cllr Clive Jones, with families spilling out into the churchyard grounds to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
Richard Lamey moves with his family to Norwich, where he will be the director of mission and ministry, leading a team of about 10 experts in children’s work, youth work, fundraising, the environment, and social justice.
He said: “I had an amazing farewell and managed to stretch it out over an entire day.
“It was all overwhelmingly wonderful.
“I have lots of memories to take with me of the day; presiding at the service and standing in the pulpit for the last time, the amazingly generous presentations, the lovely cards I have received and people queuing to say goodbye outside church and again in the afternoon.
It was a super day and a very moving and humbling one too.
“Wokingham is an amazing and very caring community, and I know that it will continue to go from strength to strength with such commitment, leadership and kindness.”
He remains in the borough for a couple of weeks as he and his family prepare for the move.
The parish will be without a rector for the next few months, but a new appointment is hoped to be in place early next year.
For information, visit: www.spauls.co.uk
