A CHURCH worker who has served the congregation for 40 years has been rewarded for her long and loyal service.

Dorothy Simpson has been an official at the Church of the Nazarene in Colne for 40 years of its 60-year history.

She spent 15 years as church secretary before turning her skills to the post of treasurer for the past 25 years.

As the Lord Street church celebrates its 60th anniversary, Dorothy, of Church Meadows, Colne, has been rewarded for her efforts. She was presented with a Distinguished Service Order certificate in a padded case during a morning service.

Church minister Marshall Goff said: "Dorothy has been connected with the church for as long as anyone can remember.

"She has worked long and hard for the church. We wanted to do something to say thank you."

Dorothy, 69, said: "I was was one of the first Sunday scholars at the church when it started. I've been involved with the church all my life.

"I was gobsmacked when they presented the certificate to me during a service. It came completely out of the blue and it was a really pleasant surprise.

"The minister was doing the introduction and I wondered what was going on and then suddenly it dawned that it was me he was talking about."

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