Taken from the Vicar's remarks at Andrew White's thank-you party in the Parish Centre on Friday July 21st
The story of Andrew coming here and working with us is a story of God's grace, God's undeserved goodness, to us as a church family.
I'd been aware when I came here of other churches that had hugely benefited from having a young graduate apprentice or lay assistant or youth volunteer, as we have been calling Andrew. The title doesn't matter - it's the person that matters.
I'd floated the idea at PCC in Lisa's and my first few months here just to test the water and was told, predictably in retrospect: 'We can't afford it! ' But it was glaringly obvious - and you only needed to attend the church for a couples of Sundays running to see this - that actually we couldn't afford not to. Bishop Cyril (Ashton - Bishop of Doncaster), bless him, gave the idea a good boot up the field when he came to visit the parish back in 2002 and shortly after that, we as a PCC rightly agreed to commit some financial resources to this vitally-needed initiative.
The next hurdle was finding the person. Recruiting a young graduate to come here and work with us proved difficult and it was a low point back in the summer of 2003 when I had to return the generous cheques we'd been given by the Church Burgesses and the Fulwood Trust. But by God's grace through the good offices of St Ebbe's, Oxford, Andrew heard about us and agreed to come and serve among us starting in September 2004.
The next hurdle God overcame for us was finding suitable accommodation for Andrew. A last-minute notice placed in the Wharncliffe Side post office in June of 2004, very much at the instigation of Lisa, linked us up with accommodation in the village where Andrew has very happily lodged in the two years he has been with us. God's grace in so many ways.
The word that I feel sums up Andrew's contribution to our church family and indeed parish is the word commitment - the real Christian commitment he has shown in the three schools in the parish, taking part in school assemblies, drama classes, RE lessons and discussion groups; his commitment week in and week out to the Sunday Club; his commitment to the practical jobs he's done so conscientiously around the church and church-yard and parish centre.
I'm delighted that he's staying on us with us a member of our church family as he begins his teacher training.
With all Christian good wishes,
Julian Mann
Vicar