Vicar’s farewell after 35 years

PARISHIONERS, friends and family of Rev Duncan Carter gathered at Holy Trinity Church in Henley on Sunday for a lunch to thank him for 35 years of service.

Rev Carter was inducted as the eighth vicar of the church in November 1990.

Only one previous vicar has served for longer, the Rev W P Pinckney, who served for 40 years from 1849 to 1889.

Rev Carter stepped aside late last year to take on a supporting role, while working with incoming vicar Sam Brewster to enable a “smooth transition” between ministers.

He said that it would be “strange” to finally leave the church where he has lived for more than half of his life.

Rev Carter said: “So much is wrapped up in being here and, as a vicar, your work is your life. It will be very odd stepping back but I’m holding it together.

“There are people from 35 years of being here and people are coming back today who were here back in 1990 when I first started.

“My eldest daughter is here and she was only one month old when I arrived and the rest of the kids grew up here so, for them, it’s their family home.”

Rev Carter’s four grown-up children, Rachel, Sarah, Thomas and Isabel, and three grandchildren, Theo, Amelia and Sienna, all attended the lunch.

He said: “It’s a joy to have been able to share God’s work with people through all of the ups and downs.

“The last few weeks I’ve been trying to hold it together. I’ve been trying to hand over all of my responsibilities to someone else, I see it as like a relay race where you pass on the baton so I’ve got some amazing people stepping up.

“I’m trying to buy a house down in Gloucester where my sister lives and it is a little bit touch and go because the house hasn’t come through yet but, if that all works out, it will be a lovely fresh start and new opportunity.”

Canon Paul Fitzpatrick, from Sacred Heart Church, said that Rev Carter had been a “linchpin” who brought all of the churches together.

He said: “He has been wonderful. One of the great things is that all of the local ministers have worked together closely but we’ve become friends. Duncan being here the longest, he has been the linchpin that brought us all together.

“When you arrive, he’s the first to welcome you. When we are coming to meetings he often chairs them and he works in a way that he’s not just a colleague but a friend.”

Mike Hails, who was the church foreman when Rev Carter was first appointed, said: “I’m sure we can all agree that it doesn’t seem a day too much since that evening in November 1990 when Duncan was inducted. I would like to say, on behalf of everybody here, a big thank-you to Duncan for all that he has been and done over the past 35 years at this ministry here in Henley.

“Not just as the vicar here but in so many other ways. As area dean, Duncan would have been in touch with 16 churches in the Henley deanery. I think it’s due to Duncan’s influence that the churches get on so well together.

“Ministers meeting each month, or when they can, chair of the trustees at Trinity hall, president of the rifle club, although he says he has never lifted a rifle.”

Rev Carter’s eldest daughter, Rachel, said: “It’s so lovely to see so many faces that I haven’t seen in so long, lots of memories are coming back.

“When I was asked to speak today I spoke to my siblings and we talked about what our memories are of Trinity, and the thing that really shines through is the sense of community and friendship and support and love and all of those lovely things.

“The only thing that will be slightly ruined now is our own personal prayer — ‘our father who art in Henley, Duncan be thy name’, it won’t have the same ring to it.”

Rev Brewster said it had been a “pleasure and a privilege” to be able to work with Rev Carter during the eight-month transition period.

He read out a poem he wrote called Duncan Carter: The Tribute before presenting him with gifts, photographs taken over his years of service, books of messages from adults and children and a financial donation.

Maureen George, who has attended Trinity Church throughout all of Rev Carter’s service, said: “I’ve been coming here as long as Duncan has been here, more than 35 years, and I don’t want him to go. He is always marvellous when you need him. He is very empathetic. We’ve grown together as a church. He is a wonderful friend as well as a reverend.”

A selection of refreshments, lunch and pudding was served by members of the church throughout the function.