Revd Richard will be leaving us in the summer of 2014. The church had voted for him to stay but the URC (United Reformed Church) overrode that as they did not feel the decision was decisive enough. So Richard is looking for his next posting and it sounds like that will not be with the URC.
With reduced congregations, the URC have reduced from 1100 to 500 ministers in the last ten years and think that should be nearer 400. We will next be getting a Methodist Minister as Trinity alternate and will have a joint Minister with All Saints. We already have a lot of joint evening services with All Saints so this is a logical thing to do. Recently it was announced ... "Following the successful visit by the Rev’d Ian Griffiths and his wife,
Tabitha, and with positive responses from both churches, an invitation
was extended to Ian by the Circuit Invitation Committee.
This is for an appointment commencing on 1st September 2014.
Ian has accepted the invitation and says that he will be delighted to come to Abingdon."