August, 2022
Shortly before I took up the position of Minister at Pentref, I led a service in which I mentioned a famous Victorian preacher, Dr Joseph Parker, a preacher who I much admired for his forthright words about many of the social issues of his time. On the day of my induction someone called and as a welcome gift gave me a copy of the British Monthly, February 1903 which contained a 22-page tribute to Joseph Parker who had passed away the previous November. The gift was a thoughtful act of kindness to welcome the ‘new minister’. It was the first of many acts of kindness that Vanessa and I have experienced since we moved to Newbridge.
The time has now come for me to retire and in this my last ‘From the Minister’ Vanessa and I would like to thank all the members of the Baptist Chapel for their help and support over the years. We would also like to thank the whole village for their warm welcome and making us feel at home.
As I was rereading the tribute to Dr Parker I came across a strange heading: ‘Posthumous Writings of Dr Parker’. It is a good trick if you can do it! I am not quite ‘Posthumous’ I am only retiring from the pastorate. In that retirement Vanessa and I intend to stay in the village and plan to continue to be part of the life of the chapel and the community.
We look forward to welcoming Misha as the New Minister and know that the chapel and the whole village will make her as welcome as you made us.
Once again thank you to all those who have made us welcome, and it is goodbye from this minister and on the next page a hello from the new minister.
