MEMBERS of the Northwich United Reformed Church marked the end of an era as they said farewell to their minister the Rev Martin Smith.

After leading the Northwich congregation for seven years Mr Smith and his wife the Rev Kirsty Thorpe, who is minister for the Malpas URC are leaving for pastures new as they take up ministries in Blackburn and Bolton.

Mr Smith arrived in Northwich in 1996, straight after graduating from the Mansfield College in Oxford where he had trained to be a minister.

He was originally minister for the URC in Northwich, Moulton and Frodsham before the church's restructure.

Although the couple are looking forward to their new roles they will take with them some fond memories.

Mr Smith said: "We have many happy memories here. It is a small congregation but we have made some very good friends."

He added: "I wouldn't call it a highlight as such but certainly something very special was when the Mayor of Vale Royal in 2001 wanted a civic service to remember the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and I was very involved in getting that together.

Experience

"It was certainly a very big experience as it was attended by a New York firefighter.

"A lot of people commented about how very moving the service had been."

Mr Smith is also a governor of Charles Darwin Street Primary School and is immensely proud of the progress the school has made.

Members of the congregation held a musical evening last weekend to say a special goodbye to the couple.

scorrigan@guardiangrp.co.uk