It’s not everyone who gets a Bishop turning up when they step down from a church post, but that’s what happened when Brenda Hall (pictured right with Bishop James and Revd Yvonne Calllaghan) retired last Sunday as church warden in the parish of Easby, Skeeby, Brompton on Swale and Bolton on Swale, near Richmond in North Yorkshire.
Brenda has been churchwarden there for 21 years and Bishop James, the Bishop of Ripon joined the congregation at St. Agatha's, Skeeby, on Trinity Sunday to pay tribute to her long service.
Speaking on the response from Isaiah to God, (“Is it I Lord?”), Bishop James said that Brenda, twenty one years ago, had responded to God’s call and through her response has made a big difference to the parish, most especially to the physical church building of St Agatha in Skeeby. He challenged the congregation to do as Isaiah and Brenda had done and listen to God’s call. “The next question to ask” he said, was “is this appropriate, and then have I got time, am I able to commit to this calling, if not, what needs to change if we are going to make a difference?”
Vicar, Revd Yvonne Callaghan said, “It was a joy to welcome Bishop James to our Parish service on Trinity Sunday as we celebrated and gave thanks for Brenda Hall’s 21 years of service as Church Warden …and the start of her well earned retirement.”
During the service a Paschal Candle stand was presented to the church of St Agatha, Skeeby in acknowledgement of Brenda’s 21 years of service, as she was presented with cards and gifts.