ST DENYS - THE VICAR’S FAREWELL
On Advent Sunday 27th November at 10.00am, the Revd. Steve Heygate took his last service as Vicar of St Denys. He gave his last sermon and celebrated communion to a full church. There were many members of St Denys there as well as family and long standing friends of Steve and Marion.
After the service we adjourned to the Village Hall for a buffet lunch followed by various presentations. The Junior Church, Mothers’ Union and Ladies Group presented Steve and Marion with gifts and cards wishing them well for the future. After these presentations, Ann Bennett spoke about the past 11 years that Steve and Marion had been with us and referred to some of the things that had been achieved. They were then given various gifts bought with money that had been donated by the church members. A print of a painting by Boticelli entitled ‘The Birth of Venus’ now hangs in Steve’s study. He was also given a case of red wine and garden centre vouchers to the value of £500. Marion was presented with a bouquet and thanked for all she had done over the years.
Steve thanked everybody for the gifts they had received which had been overwhelming. They had both enjoyed their time at St Denys, had made many friends and were sad to be leaving. However, Steve felt it was the right time for him to move so that someone new could now continue with the work of spreading the gospel in Evington.
John Rudge, Churchwarden at St Denys