Dear All,
2024 was another busy year in the life of St Paul’s. We began the year by welcoming the Rev’d Alan Milne to assist in the ministry in our church. Alan is the retired Vicar of Murton.
In February we entered the season of Lent and welcomed the Rev’d David Goodacre back to the parish to preach for us. David was the Vicar of St Paul’s in the 1970s.
In March we took a parish outing to the Faith Museum at Auckland Castle which was enjoyed by all.
Our friend Rev’d David Kennedy also returned to St Paul’s to preach throughout Holy Week. As ever, we were inspired by his wisdom and humour. We also made the decision to restore the wine during Holy Communion at Easter. It’s great to have servers back in the sanctuary to assist with the service.
April saw the commencement of a new partnership and ministry: the introduction of a monthly Holy Communion service at Bede House Care Home. Our link with the Care Home has been fruitful since it opened.
In June our Church Shop celebrated its 10th birthday. We marked the occasion with a special service of Evensong during which volunteers were thanked for their dedication and hard work. In many ways, the shop is the jewel in our crown and it serves the parish during the hours when the church is closed.
The beginning of July was special for St Paul’s and the people of Ryhope generally in that we all boarded buses and made the journey to Beamish for the opening of the restored Grand Cinema. We were delighted to watch a film about Ryhope featuring St Paul’s and it was great that Ryhope Choir (who meet in our church) were fully involved in the celebrations.
Things continued to be busy after the Summer. We appointed new Artists in Residence who began work on our 2025 Calendar and we convened for a Bible study on the Book of Daniel, led by the Rev’d Dr David Bryan, another new friend of the parish. Elaine Shanks was also accepted for training as an Authorized Lay Minister of the Word.
One of our most notable events was the dedication of a World War 2 Memorial Plaque in November. This had been lost from Ryhope Grammar School before being returned to the parish in recent years. We were delighted to be able to use a copy of the original dedication service from 1949, ably assisted by Ryhope Choir. A great night was had by all.
We concluded our year with a Christmas concert from our friends at the NASUWT Brass Band and a pantomime from our friends at Theatre Space North East.
I really feel that our church is loved and valued within our community. We have great support at key times in the year, at our Summer and Christmas Fayres, on Mothering Sunday and Remembrance Sunday and throughout the Christmas season. It’s at these times that we especially feel the benefit of our links with our local schools.
We’re also blessed with the presence of a good number of young people in the congregation, filling us with hope for the future. We were able to present a bumper number of candidates for Confirmation in the Summer, all of whom make a vital contribution to the life of our church.
As ever, the work of the Church depends on the generosity of our parishioners, in money and in time. Special thanks must be made to our Churchwarden, Treasurer, Secretary, Magazine Editor, PCC members, organists, vergers, cleaners, readers, flower ladies and all else who give so freely of themselves to make things happen. It is a great privilege for me to serve you as your vicar.
Sadly, the passing of another year also entails the passing of parishioners and friends. In 2024 we said a fond farewell to Ella Graham, a dedicated member of our congregation for many years. In recent weeks we have also lost Peter Hedley and Miriam Gregson. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Your friend and vicar, David.