That was the week that was

It has been a busy week in Gainford, following our 2 weeks in the Outer Hebrides where we enjoyed the warm sunny days, the changing colours of sea and sky, and the luxury if almost deserted white sandy beaches. It is a long time since that part of Scotland enjoyed such a prolonged spell of summer weather.

It was back to a weekend in which The Rev'd Eileen Harrop was inducted as our new Parish Priest, and we celebrated the 90th birthday of the Queen.

The Induction service, led by the Bishop of Durham, was a joyful occasion and the presence of St Mary's Band prompted the Bishop to compare the band with those which appear in Thomas Hardy's novels. Long before organs were invented, village bands led the singing of hymns, and St Mary's Band is reviving that tradition.

One tradition was, I am sad to say, not introduced into the service, That is where the incumbent is led to the door of the church, and then rings the bell, before being placed in his/her stall by the Archdeacon. The new priest would, it was rumoured, ring the bell the number of times representing the number of years he/she intended to remain in the parish. Despite the omission of this symbolic act I hope Eileen will be with us for many years.

However, it was good to see that the tradition of people from other churches and community groups welcoming the new priest was part of the service and several people took advantage of this to welcome Eileen/

Then, of course, there was the reception afterwards, this time held in the school. There is always a worry that there will not be enough to feed the ravenous worshippers, but, as usual, the loaves and fishes story was repeated as the tables groaned under the weight of the baking of parishioners.

Eileen, still bleary eyed from Friday night, officiated at her first services at Winston and Gainford on Sunday and was well received. The departure from Winston was delayed as Eileen greeted her parishioners and she almost ran down the path of Gainford Church to be ready for a 10-45am start. I hope that she does not have to do this every week, and the service at Gainford changed to 11-00am.
I was with Eileen that morning, driven by husband Brian, who drove at fast as he legally could.

And the busy week ended with a service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the Queen in St Mary's, where worshippers from all the churches in Gainford and Winston paid tribute to Her Majesty. Rory Thompson  gave a splendid tribute and Eileen interviewed Christine Graham about her work at the Well food bank in Bishop Auckland. Appropriate bunting adorned the interior of the church and a red, white and blue flower arrangement  was the final touch.