A fond farewell to IvorBy David Burgess, Vicar of St John the Baptist
The Revd Ivor Cornish is due to retire at the end of this month. To mark this occasion and to thank him for his ministry in our four churches we are holding a four-parish joint Communion at The Lee on Tuesday 7th September at 7:30 pm. All are welcome, and the service will be followed by a bring-and-share supper.
Ivor was appointed as non-stipendiary curate to the four parishes within a month of my arrival here. He has served in the Oxford Diocese during his entire ministry as reader and ordained minister, and was non-stipendiary curate for eight years in Aston Clinton, Drayton Beauchamp and Buckland before coming here.
John Hull and I as colleagues, and all of us as parishioners, have immensely valued his thoughtful approach to, and diligent conduct of, his pastoral and parochial ministry, together with his deep theological knowledge and wisdom in many areas.
His diligence has extended to social and fundraising events; he has always been reliable in supporting the churches by his attendance at those functions. We think he’s gained enough skill and experience in enough fêtes, fairs and sales to set up for himself as a second-hand bookseller if he wanted to...!
His contribution has been invaluable, and he will be greatly missed.