Dear all in the Turton Moorland Team,
As September dawns, along with a new academic term we have a new season in our team and our ministry. I wanted to write a brief note to express my thanks to all of you for the time that I have shared with you in this team.
We have gone through unimaginable change in the time I have been curate-and we have faced some unprecedented circumstances. It is with a heavy heart that I say farewell, but as I reflect there is much joy amongst the lament of leaving. I have had the opportunity to experience being a part of 6 different churches, each congregation with its own character and its own passions. I feel like I have been embraced as one of your own during my time with you all and I have been supported and upheld as I have navigated the learning curve of curacy alongside the challenges that we’ve all faced.
Whether you would like to take responsibility for it or not, you have formed me into the priest that I am now. I’ve learnt all manner of things about buildings, graveyards, people, finances, governance, schools (I didn’t think I had much to learn on this, but nevertheless I have done so!), organising services and rotas, balancing the needs of worshipping communities with the strains of an ever decreasing pool of clergy…the list goes on. I am proud of what you have all produced, and I hope you are too!
So, there is nothing more that I can say other than goodbye, or at least ‘see you soon’, I’m not going far!
With love and prayers,
Rev Hannah Lane
(soon to be) Vicar of Bolton
