Steve came to Ottery St Mary as its vicar in 2013 and he is now retiring. Today he had his “Farewell Service” at our church.
Due to the pandemic it was very different from what I have experienced in the past. it was three different services. At our Mass we were outside in the church yard, some of us standing and some sitting and everyone doing his/her best to keep social distancing.
And after the service Grenville recited Psalm 23 and I have got his permission to quote from it below:
Psalm 23 from the Further Revised version of the Revised Non-Standard Version of the New Ottery St Mary English Bible (with Apocrypha).
Stephen is our nearly retired Rector, we shall always want. He has made us sit down to listen to countless sermons. He has enjoyed his favourite whisky beside still waters. He has restored our sense of humour with the most appalling jokes. He has trod the odd right path on the Quantock Hills for Coleridge’s sake, as well as some of the darkest places known in the town like local pubs, where he has feared no evil; his mandolin and guitar have been with him to comfort him. His loyal servers have prepared a table for him every week, except during lockdown when he has anointed his head with copious quantities of good red wine to retain his sanity. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow him and Cathy all the way to Bigbury and the Pilchard Inn on Burgh Island where they shall be able to reflect on the exceedingly good times they had at Ottery St Mary – for e v e r!
According to my sources Psalm 23 is written by Grenville Gilbert. Thanks Grenville
Ottery St Mary Church is from 1350.
Steve – and Cathy, his wife – have been a very important part of the social fabric in our community. They will be sadly missed, when they move away in August. But they will not move too far, they will still remain in Devon, at Bigbury-on-Sea, opposite the island of Burgh, where Agatha Christie set two of her detective stories.
Knightstone Manor has had an impact on Steve and Cathy too. His first meeting, when he was interviewed for the position of rector at our mission community, took place at Knightstone Manor. And we have arranged several church parties on our grounds and the choir come every year to sing Christmas Carols at Knightstone with many other guests. And Cathy and Steve have been guests at our home many times, sometimes also with some of their children, as we have been at their vicarage.
Below I have two slide shows. The first is from today’s service and the second shows a few photos from our time with Steve and Cathy.
Click the arrows to advance the slide shows
Slideshow of the Service
The service was held outside. Here we are waiting for Steve to come out
1
Steve is greeting us welcome
1
Introduction
1
The Service
1
The congregation trying to keep the social distancing rules
1
Preparing for communion
1
It was only Steve that took communion on behalf of all of us
1
Words of reflection and farewell
1
Steve walks out from his last service at Ottery St Mary's lovely medieval church
1
But after the service Grenville delivered a short, but magnificent and very funny speech
1
And Jules thanked Steve and Cathy on behalf of the congregation
1
And Michael Farley (the organist) brought a wheel-barrow of wine
1
And they got a painting
1
…of Ottery St Mary Church
1
…very much admired by the granddaughter
1
Cathy is laughing at all the labels on the wine bottles
1
Cathy is introducing their family to the congregation
1
Slideshow of Memories with Steve and Cathy
December 2013. It is Steve's first year and Mikee is just about to be deputy chorister at Ottery St Mary church
1
Mikee is promoted to deputy head chorister by Steve
1
And Eric got activities as well. He was with Steve's help dressing a living Christmas tree at the church
1
We arranged Christmas lunch for elderly, who were often lonely and Steve and Cathy participated. Here Cathy is sitting in black with some of our guests in December 2013
1
And a year later (2014) in our dining room. Eric is to the left and Cathy is to the right
1
The guests are waiting for the lunch to be served, while Jennifer and Steve, are overseeing everything in the background
1
We had a dinner at the Grand Nave in Exeter Cathedral in 2015. Steve and Cathy are further away and closest to the camera are the then Rector of the Swedish Church in London, Michael Persson and Jennifer
1
Exeter Cathedral at the Grand Nave Dinner
1
Steve led the carol singing at one of our parties for the seniors. December 2015
1
And after the party Steve is drying the glasses, while Cathy is doing the washing up in the background.
1
Eric and his godmother at Eric's birthday party June 2016. The theme was sailing.
1
The maintenance team of Cathy and Steve, who on his free time is working as vicar of Ottery St Mary too, with Sally Sedgeman in the middle
1
Steve and Jennifer in June 2016
1
Steve Weston conducted a blessing for Mikee after her adoption in November 2016
1
Steve and Mikee
1
A jazz orchestra performed at Knightstone one summer evening in 2017. Steven is to the left.
1
Picnic in the meadow listening to the jazz orchestra
1
Picnic and listening to jazz
1
The Swedish Church is always welcome to Ottery St Mary and its church. In 2019 the whole choir visited in May. Our son Eric and Jennifer in the foreground and me, Steve, Cathy, Anki and Eric Muhl. Eric was rector of the Swedish Church at the time.
