The Rev Sue Wharton wishes to announce that she will be going to work in Canterbury Diocese. She will be Licenced as Priest in charge of Bethersden, High Halden and Woodchurch on March 19th. Sue’s last Sunday in the Washburn Valley and Mid-Wharfe parishes will be February 26th.

Article by the Revd. Cayte Norman,the Rural Dean

Sue Wharton has worked hard during her time in the parishes to engage with families through the schools, and in services made accessible to children and families through Open the Book resources. She has also continued the more traditional services loved by many of you.I also know that her pastoral care has been appreciated by many people.

During the vacancy which starts 18^th March the people of these parishes are given the opportunity to keep alive the worship, mission and ministry of the parish churches . A vacancy is a time for people within each parish to work together as a team and to share out what needs to be done across as wide a group of people as possible. Often it is only when a vicar leaves, that it becomes clear how much background as well as foreground work was done by them .

The rota team will continue to meet to compose the rota of Sunday services for each month.There may be times when a service does not happen as normal, due to constraints now in place - so check the website or church magazine.

The appointment process will involve the patrons, representatives from the parishes and the senior staff of the diocese. There will be the need to produce a brochure about the parishes for applicants. There also needs to be some thinking about what particular qualities in the vicar are needed for the next phase of ministry in the benefice.

During the vacancy the first contact for baptisms, weddings or funerals is Rachael Boggs with the churchwardensas the next point of contact.Details are on the Contact Us page or Church Officers page.

I wish you all well during this time

Cayte