Mary's final message:My Dear Friends, Well here we are at the end of our time together, for from the start of 2024 I will begin my retirement. I am so very, very sad to move away from you all as I begin a new, more relaxed life in Lancashire. It is also the start of something new for the churches and people of Allonby, Crosscanonby and Dearham and I pray that God will soon send just the right person to lead you forward into all that He has planned for you. There will be new folk to meet, get to know and work with as you walk and explore faith together with the people from Aspatria, Hayton and Gilcrux - there will be a new leader to get to know who I pray will be a real blessing to you all and to the communities around you. I hope you will welcome these new opportunities with open arms and find yourselves filled with more and more of God's love, hope, joy and goodness. It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve you all here - I have loved my time among you and it has been a real privilege to walk beside you in some of the happiest and saddest times possible. I know that I will miss you greatly, but the very special place you hold in my heart will always be there. Thank you for all you have given, shared and been to me - thank you for your acceptance and for the love and happiness you have given to me. I thank God for every one of you from the very bottom of my heart. Love always, Mary xxx
