Retiring canon goes out with a bang

MEMBERS of the congregation at Doncaster Minster gathered at two services yesterday to bid farewell to a vicar who has overseen several milestones in the church's history.

Canon Christopher Smith took over at the landmark St George's church in Doncaster town centre in 2002, but said it was "time to retire" after turning 65 last September.

The vicar and his family will relocate to a new home near Berwick-upon-Tweed on the English and Scottish border, which is close to where he was born and brought up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Canon Smith, who has been ordained as a priest for 40 years, spent 22 years of his career in Liverpool. He then moved to Sheffield Cathedral and played a large part in setting up the Cathedral Archer Project for the homeless, which now has its own centre and full-time workers.

Canon Smith said: "I have been here for seven and a half years and it's going to be a real wrench because we have loved Doncaster, loved the church, the town and its people.

"We have seen a huge regeneration take place, and we are starting to get some work done on the church which has made a real difference to the community here.

"People think about the Church of England being in decline, but our congregation is growing and it is not just one class or age, it's a real mix of people joining us."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

St George's became a minster in 2004 and recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. It is thought a church has stood on the site since the 7th Century, but fire claimed the current building's predecessor.

Canon Smith added: "There have been several milestones in my time here – not least putting heating in, which has allowed us to get more people into the church for concerts and other events.

"Doncaster' s development means the town's centre of gravity is also moving back towards the Minster, with a planned Minster Quarter, the new college and the new emphasis on the markets.

"There has also been a new football stadium, new shopping centre and transport interchange – these are good things that people tend to forget about.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"There is still a lot of work to be done, both in the church and the community, but these are exciting times for Doncaster, and if people hold their nerve, it will be an even better place in 10 years' time."

Canon Smith said that despite his retirement, he would still act as a priest and would take an interest in what was happening in the parish where he ended his full-time career.

But he added that he did not want to be the "ghost of Christmas past", and wished all those continuing work in the parish the best for the future.