Father Arthur's Farewell
| The occasion was a very happy one as well as being so
emotionally charged. Over 200 people attended his final
Mass at Kelvedon and the marquee and lawn were packed for
the joyous farewell. Subsequently Father Arthur was presented with many personal gifts in addition to the formal presents of an album of photgraphs spanning the last 14 years, a framed picture of the farewell dinner with the Parish Council at the Swan at Chappel, and a very handsome cheque. All parishioners were thanked by the Parish Council for their involvement, generous support and goodwill. The cardboard cut-out remains as an ever present reminder.
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FATHER ARTHUR QUOTED AT THE TIME:-
I HAVE BEEN SO OVERWHELMED BY THE FAREWELL CELEBRATIONS LAST WEEK
THAT I WAS TEMPTED TO WRITE TO THE BISHOP TO TELL HIM THAT I HAD
CHANGED MY MIND AND I HAD DECIDED TO STAY IN KELVEDON AFTER ALL!
HOWEVER, THE THOUGHT OF ALL THAT UNPACKING AND THE GIVING BACK OF
ALL YOUR MARVELLOUS GIFTS WAS TOO MUCH TO FACE!
MY LAST SUNDAY IN THE PARISH WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND IT
SUMMED UP FOR ME ALL OUR SHARING TOGETHER OVER THE PAST FOURTEEN
YEARS. SINCERE THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME LAST SUNDAY TO CELEBRATE
WITH ME AND FATHER FRANK, NOT ONLY AT THE MAIN EVENT AT KELVEDON
BUT ALSO AT THE MASSES AT COGGESHALL AND TIPTREE. CLEARLY, THERE
WAS SO MUCH THOUGHT AND WORK OF PREPARATION AND MANY MUST HAVE
LABOURED VERY HARD TO PROVIDE THE EATS, DRINKS, DECORATIONS ETC.
IT WAS FOR ME ONE FINAL EXAMPLE OF THE WAY THE FAMILY OF THE
PARISH WORKS TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVELY GIFTS, YOUR
CARDS, YOUR DEEPLY MOVING MESSAGES AND FOR THE WONDERFULLY
GENEROUS CHEQUE.
OF COURSE, WE WILL NEVER FORGET EACH OTHER AND I WILL NEVER PASS
ALONG THE KELVEDON BYPASS WITHOUT THROWING OUT FROM THE CAR A
BLESSING ON YOU ALL. MY FINAL JOY IS THAT I KNOW YOU WILL GATHER
AROUND FATHER GORDON IN THE SAME WONDERFUL WAY YOU HAVE SHARED
WITH ME.
GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS
Richard Sparrow 25th Oct 2000
