RETIRING Bishop of Burnley John Goddard has thanked the hundreds of people who attended his special farewell service at Blackburn Cathedral on Saturday.
It was packed with more than 1,000 people to acknowledge his 43 years in the Church England ministry – nearly 14 as the town’s Bishop. He received gifts including money collected from around Blackburn Diocese to go towards a cruise, vouchers for a day at Silverstone, a carved wooden candleholder and a lifebelt and armbands.
His farewell message said: “Thank you for your wonderful encouraging, yet humbling, farewell service. It was wonderful to see so many of you there.
“I also want to thank you all for the presentation gifts, which take my breath away. My wife Vivienne and I will be making plans for our future travelling. Many thanks and may God continue to guide the Diocese forward to His glory and the service of all.
On Monday, Burnley Council held a special ‘thank you’ civic lunch for him.
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