A moving farewell

Today was the last service in Holy Trinity Dunoon taken by the current Rector, Andrew Swift, who is also Dean of the Diocese of Argyll & the Isles.

Andrew has been the priest for the Episcopal congregations in Dunoon and Rothesay for 8 years and he and his wife Mary have very much been a team which has motivated and lead a joint parish  that had been going through some difficulties when they arrived.   

It is now a changed place but nothing, of course stands still and  last month he was elected Bishop of Brechin.  He  will be installed in that role in the Cathedral in Dundee at the end of August.

He will be greatly missed in Cowal and Bute , both in the church and in the wider community where he has been very active, including in the role of Deputy Lord Lieutenant and as a school chaplain.     

Today's service was an emotional one, but ,as ever with Andrew and Mary, full of humour as well.   Just before the end the whole family were presented with gifts (including a mitre for him ) and then they walked down the aisle together.   

Andrew has himself  blipped in the past and never minds a picture being taken in church, as regular visitors to this journal will know. .  So this was an obvious photograph for today and is posted with my gratitude and good wishes for I will miss him personally as well. 

Though I couldn't resist an extra picture in conclusion - a quick shot which shows him as many will have seen him so often , looking slightly amused in the kindliest possible way.