DEPARTING vicars will make sure the handover of the churches they have presided over for just over five years
Father David Warner and wife, Mother Penny, will be departing St George’s in Mossley and its namesake in Stalybridge at the end of January after deciding to accept roles in Norfolk.
But they have promised to make sure the change will be as trouble free as possible.
In a parish address, Father David said: “These announcements come after a long period of discernment and prayer for Penny and I.
“In the New Year, working with churchwardens and PCCs, I will seek to ensure a smooth transition to vacancy.
“I regret that I cannot accurately say what will happen next for the parish in terms of staffing – as you know, the Diocese is in the midst of a programme of change, and even if I stayed, my relationship with you would have had to change in very significant ways.
“In the weeks ahead, I shall try to ensure that all the weddings and baptisms currently booked for next year can go ahead as planned and will be in touch with these families in due course.
“Until my final service here is over, I remain committed to the mission and ministry of this parish. We still have much work, celebration and worship to encounter together.
“There is never a good time to leave a parish and we might have wished for longer with you here, but God is calling us to a new adventure and we can step into that more confidently because of all you have taught me as I have sought to serve you.”
Father David will become Priest in Charge of the North Walsham Benefice in the Diocese of Norwich and his final service will be a united Parish Eucharist at St George’s, on Stamford Street, Mossley, at 2.30pm on January 30.
Mother Penny’s at the Stalybridge St George’s, on Church Walk, is at 10.30am that day.
Associate priest, Father Ian Brocklehurst, has also left St George’s, along with wife Liz and for the time being, there are no regular weekday services.