THE Rev Joanna Abecassis, who preached her final sermons as vicar of Dartington last Sunday, recalls that when she arrived nearly four years ago she was not sure what sort of welcome she would receive.
Women priests were not readily accepted in some churches, particularly rural parishes. She was also a divorcee, which might raise a few eyebrows.
"I had experienced difficulties in previous appointments, including one elsewhere in Devon," she told me. "But not here. I suppose Dartington has always been pretty alternative and takes things in its stride. Everyone was very welcoming.
Replica watches"It may perhaps be a problem waiting for me in my next church, a much larger one in a market town, where they have had a male priest for 28 years. I shall just have to wait and see."
Joanna, who has been appointed vicar of Holy Trinity Church at Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, says she will leave Dartington with happy memories.
"I did find some people were a little wobbly about having a woman leader -- a vicar as opposed to a priest. But I suppose we are quite rare, as with woman doctors, lawyers and even prime ministers."
Dartington has seen a great deal of change during her ministry, losing its College of Arts, which is shortly moving to Falmouth, but gaining a Replica watches ground-breaking new ecofriendly primary school. There have also been concerns about plans for building many new houses.
Forum Joanna has been the driving force behind the establishment of the Dartington Community Forum which has brought village organisations together to speak with one voice.
It will keep a watchful eye on problems and now has its own website.
Replica watchesShe regrets that she will miss the annual fete, to be held in the church grounds on Saturday, June 26, and also the Way With Words literary festival where last year she set up a church service which attracted a huge congregation.
"I am leaving a beautiful and very friendly place," is her summing up.
Other articles:
http://www.newcastle-nsw.com/blog.php?user=mywatches&blogentry_id=35
http://www.jlschool.com.cn/blog/blog.asp?Uid=mywatches&id=1289