Members of All Saints Church Wokingham have celebrated 25 years since its Rector the Reverend Canon David Hodgson first came to the church.
Special congratulations were offered, and gifts presented both to David and his wife Lorraine during a Sunday service on 16th January. Colleagues and parishioners shared their memories and photos in an e- card emailed to David on the morning of the anniversary.
Bell ringers at the church rang a congratulatory quarter peel using a method called “Pudsey Surprise Major” in recognition of David’s hometown of Pudsey in West Yorkshire.
Flower arrangers incorporated the theme in floral pedestals at the church.
David said: “Lorraine and I have been truly overwhelmed by the kind words that many people have said or written to us in connection with the 25th anniversary of the start of my work at All Saints Church on 12th January 1997. It is a real privilege to serve in such a lively, active, and interesting town as Wokingham and it is a joy to meet and share in ministry with so many different people here. We look forward to an exciting time ahead at All Saints this year as we transform the church building to be an accessible and flexible community space through our ‘spaceforall’ project”
He said: “Of course there have been many changes and a growth in the size of the town over the last 25 years. My aim has been to lead the church community to adapt its life and work by innovating to ensure that we have continued to support and serve the changing community around us. I’ve worked at this task with some amazingly dedicated and talented minister colleagues and church members who have brought their energy and many gifts. I feel blessed and thankful to lead a thriving church community at the heart of the parish of All Saints Wokingham offering a welcome and support to anyone who looks to it”.
