THE end of a passionate and caring ministry.
That is how parishioners have described the 25-year ministry of the Reverend Michael Cartwright as Vicar of St Thomas' Church, in Market Rasen.
This Sunday, he holds his final service at the church.
The church was also full for a service of celebration and thanksgiving for his ministry, led by Rural Dean of West Wold, the Reverend Canon Ian Robinson, who praised Mr Cartwright for his ministry.
He said: "Michael feels passionate about the people he came to serve.
"We are the poorer as Michael leaves us, but all the richer for having the privilege of sharing our lives with him."
Mr Cartwright was born in Wolverhampton and worked as a civil servant in the Department of Employment based in the West Midlands.
"I initially became a lay reader and through that decided to test my vocation. I was 12 months at a pre-theological college in Durham and then trained for the ministry for three years at Queen's College in Birmingham," he explained.
Mr Cartwright was ordained in Worcester Cathedral in 1970 and took up a curacy at Reditch New Town. After five years he became priest in charge of Dines Green.
"It was a rough housing estate in Worcester and I was there for five years. Then it was to Durham where I was vicar of St Paul's, in Stockton on Tees.
"On a cold late autumn day 25 years ago, I arrived in Market Rasen. I did not imagine my ministry here would last so long that I would reach the compulsory retirement age of 70."
During his years in the town, Mr Cartwright also served as West Wold Rural Dean, as well as being vicar of Legsby, Linwood and Lissington.
Beyond the church he has been a familiar face in the town, serving in a variety of roles, including being on the governing body at Market Rasen CofE Primary School and at De Aston School.
Keen for the promotion of music in worship he has also sung in the church choir – even singing solos himself at the annual carol service. One enormous challenge was to raise money for the restoration of the organ, bells and tower and to oversee the work being carried out.
But at the heart of his ministry he has built a thriving congregation where people shared talents and cared for each other.
"For me these past 25 years or more have been full of wonderful happenings and wonderful people. We have achieved so much together and such is the nature of priestly ministry I have had the privilege of sharing in the joys and sorrows of so many of your lives," he said.
At the thanksgiving service, a presentation was made to him and his wife Lynn in the form of a specially-commissioned painting and a cheque.
"When Michael and Lynn go, they will leave a massive void," said Market Rasen Churchwarden Tony Parkinson.
"We wish them a long happy healthy and well-deserved retirement."
The couple will be moving to the village of Welbourn, in Lincoln.
