News 

ENewsButton

Sign-up for free e-newsletter

Revd Jemma’s Reminiscences 

Well this month my family is moving up to Oakworth in the West Yorkshire Dales, and looking forward to the next chapter in our life and ministry, I've been looking through some of the many photos I've taken since I arrived in August 2015, and thought I would share some reminiscences as we look ahead
 
REV JEMMA 12-21AI remember the hundreds of school children who learned the Christmas Story in the Advent Trail 'Angels and Shepherds and Kings' at Christmas 2015, and who put their Christmas messages in a giant card at the end, with a picture drawn for me by Ernie Childs - a great character, sadly missed - who showed me once the tiny portraits he'd painted on the Minster roof!
 
REV JEMMA 12-21BI remember Dorothy Knight teaching the lovely Sam Coe (of our YouthVoice club, and lately helping our junior Choristers) how to ring hand bells! And all the services and concerts that those young singers, and the Breakfast Club singers (now at the Priory) came to sing in the Minster and in local care homes and charity events round the area
 
REV JEMMA 12-21DVery memorable was the service at which Bishop Graham James presided, for the 75th anniversary of the destruction of the Minster, I had great delight in fitting Faure's Requiem Mass around that special summer Eucharist in 2017, and of course the fireworks for Ascension Day were an exciting feature too (almost too exciting, as Frank Cliff lit the touch paper and a crowd of small boys appeared to investigate along the medieval wall)
 
I enjoyed the regular events such as the Christmas Fayre and the Arts Festival, and Joel and Thea got stuck into the local music scene with Great Yarmouth Future Brass. I enjoyed taking so many baptisms and weddings for so many lovely families, with help from Tracey Horn and from Joel and Thea, it was a particular joy to see our own daughter Thea confirmed alongside Ana Tamba and friends from the Priory School in 2019
 
We've Christingled, and carolled, prayed together, and shed tears together, seen people young and old come to faith and grow in confidence, and commended others peacefully into God's eternal care. We have all gained so many friends from in and outside church, in our time here in Yarmouth and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Norfolk and the Broads we send you our love - as we journey up country to the beautiful Dales for the next step in our journey
 
Thank you for your kindnesses and company, God Bless you,
Jemma, Joel, and Thea