A 92-YEAR-old practicing vicar is finally stepping down to retire for the second time.

Welsh-born Tecwyn Jones has just held his last service at Feniscowles Immanuel Church, Pleasington Lane, Blackburn before a packed congregation.

Tecwyn, of Livesey Branch Road, was ordained in 1940 and came to Blackburn in 1971 where he spent time as the chaplin of St Wilfrid’s CofE School for 12 years.

Friend and parishioner Peter Dobson, 69, said Rev Jones retired from the church after finishing at St Wilfrid’s but was asked to stand in at St Frances Church in Feniscliffe at the last minute when they needed a vicar for a Holy Communion.

He has been out of retirement since then and soon became an honorary curate for a number of years until he moved to Feniscowles Immanuel, where he gave sermons on a part time basis.

Rev Jones will be leaving the parish on July 9 for a church retirement home in St Annes-on-Sea.

He said: “I never rose through the ranks because I wanted to help the people, it is the personal touch and getting on with people is the first step.

“I decided to retire because I have found I can’t walk around as much and get tired very quickly and the truth is I can’t look after myself and the parish anymore.

“My wife Freda died five years ago and I understand now when they say a woman’s jobs" target="_blank">work is never done, she used to cook and tidy the house and my place was in the church. But since she has died I have been eating ready meals and in the retirement home I will be having properly prepared meals.

“Physically I have been getting tired these last few months and I’m doing too much.

“I joined the church to help as many people as possible.”

Mr Dobson said: “Tecwyn told me he had a calling as a young boy and decided to join the church. He is a priest for the people and he had no ambitions to go any higher.

“In the 35 years I have known him he has always spoken highly of the people he has associated with.

Ken Winterburn, Feniscowles Immanuel church warden, added: “There are feelings of sadness although at some point we all have to retire.”