Minister retires

Tributes were paid at a special farewell ceremony on Saturday to a retiring church minister who has worked in Lewes and Uckfield for the last six years.

The Rev Geoffrey Dunstan (65), who is married to Sandra and has three grown-up daughters and two grandchildren, was praised for his work in helping to form Christ Church in Lewes after Methodist and United Reformed Church (URC) members agreed to unite. He was also thanked for his work as minister of the URC in Uckfield.

The Rev David Winwood, of the Mid-Sussex Circuit of the Methodist Church, said that following the union of the two churches in Lewes talks were proceeding in Seaford to explore the relationship of the United Reformed and Methodist churches there.

And in Uckfield members of the two churches were also looking to see whether they might be able to share a future.

A joint farewell service involving Lewes and Uckfield churches was held in Uckfield because a major 500,000 rebuilding scheme is under way at the Lewes church.

After the service, conducted by the Rev Nigel Uden, moderator of the Southern Province Synod of the United Reformed Church, there was a tea party followed by a stream of tributes to Mr Dunstan and the presentation of farewell gifts.

Convenor

The Rev Michael Davies, of the Sussex East District URC, said Mr Dunstan had spent some time as convenor of the district pastoral committee and thanked him for his work there as well as for his ministry in Lewes and Uckfield.

The Rev Christopher Channer, of St Michael's Church, Lewes, thanked Mr Dunstan for his work with Churches Together in Lewes. He highlighted regular Thursday morning meetings held at St Pancras RC Church which were 'a living example of ecumenism with people of different religions, different backgrounds and different perspectives meeting as friends to pray together'.

Mr Robert Newton, chairman of Uckfield Churches Together, thanked Mr Dunstan for his work in Uckfield.

Chaplain

The Mayor of Lewes Cllr Barbara Riddihough paid tribute to Mr Dunstan for his contribution towards the fabric of Lewes. She said he had been a chaplain at the Victoria Hospital and a founder member of Churches Together.

'He was also instrumental in producing most impressive processions through the streets of Lewes over the Easter weekend in the Millennium year,' said Cllr Riddihough.

Mrs Mavis Elliott, treasurer at Christ Church, Lewes, presented a picture of Lewes Castle to Mr and Mrs Dunstan. Mrs Sheila Charlesworth, secretary of Uckfield URC, gave the couple some books about the town and nine-year-old Alison Hallett presented a basket of flowers on behalf of the Uckfield Breakfast Club.

There was a further presentation of a cheque from the Lewes and Uckfield churches so that the couple could choose a present for themselves.

Mr Dunstan told the Express that he and his wife had already moved to Epsom Downs, where his wife was a registrar, and it looked as if rather than retiring completely he would be taking on another church at nearby Walton on the Hill, where the URC was joining with Anglicans with a view to forming a united church in time.

He was also hoping to do another degree, either a Master of Theology or a doctorate. His interests include philately (stamp collecting), cricket, music and reading.

Mr Dunstan has been a minister for 39 years, starting at Cockfosters URC between 1963 and 1968. Representatives from that church joined the farewell service.