The Church of England congregation of St Augustine’s in Gillingham said goodbye yesterday (Sunday 11th July 2010) to its assistant priest Fr Paul Matthias. At a special presentation following the Sunday morning service, the congregation and fellow ministers paid tribute to his work and ministry offered at the church over the last twenty-eight years. Fr Paul is to become priest in charge at St Luke’s in Gillingham later this month, where he has been helping out for some time. The presentation was followed by the Parish Summer Barbecue in the vicarage garden.
In his final sermon, Fr Paul told the congregation that came to St Augustine’s in the early 1980s, intending to be present in the congregation for a short time whilst he was training for priesthood in the Church of England. Instead he remained, serving as a sidesman, churchwarden and layreader and, after ordination in 1994, as deacon and priest. Fr Paul ended by reminding the congregation to continue doing what they had always been called by Christ to do – to love one another.
Afterwards, at a special presentation he was given a white Stole (from the internationally-acclaimed vestment maker Juliet Hemingray), a commemorative book showing scenes from his ministry over the years and a cake celebrating his ministry and his love of motorcycles.
St Augustine’s parish priest, Fr Jonathan Jennings, paid tribute to his work over the years:
“Fr Paul is an exceptional priest – someone whose ministry has been worked out in this place for nearly twenty eight years in one form or another and his work has underpinned everything that has been possible here. He’s become a familiar sight in Gillingham on one of his many beloved motorcycles and many families and individuals have come to know him through the regular services and through baptisms, weddings and funerals. We will miss him greatly.”
Fr Paul said that his feelings were mixed:
“I’m sad to leave because St Augustine’s has been the place where much of my ministry has been lived out and the place has many, many happy memories for me. But I’m excited about the move to St Luke’s which will enable me to develop my ministry further and enable me to work with another great group of people.”
Photographs by Steve Lucock
Page last updated: 16/12/2011