Farewell, Rev. Sarah

As of 1st September 2024, our minister Rev Sarah Knebel has moved to her new pastorate in the Poole Bay Circuit on the Dorset coast this Summer.

Sarah, together with husband Rob and daughters Keira and Clara, joined us as a Probationer Minister, fresh out of training college in Birmingham, five years ago in September 2019.

Sarah completed her training and was ordained as a full Methodist Minister in June 2021.

I rather suspect that the subjects covered on Sarah’s training course at Queen’s Theological College, Birmingham, did not include demolishing an old chapel, building a new church, followed almost immediately by a global Covid pandemic, where all churches and life in general came to a standstill. Further changes followed in the circuit ministry team meaning that Sarah was given responsibility over other churches in addition to Wharton & Cleggs Lane and Walkden. I think we can safely call Sarah’s first role in the ministry a baptism of fire!

Sarah settled into her new role and has played an integral part in the ministry of our church and the circuit and it has certainly been a huge learning curve which will stand her in good stead for the future.

After the church service at Wharton & Cleggs Lane on 21st July, Sarah joined us for lunch and refreshments at church, then the following day, Sarah joined café volunteers and friends on the coach trip to Liverpool.

Sarah’s formal leaving service was held at Walkden Methodist Church on Sunday 28th July.

Sarah, Rob, Keira and Clara. You leave with our love, blessing and thanks for all you have contributed over the past five years and we wish you much happiness for the future.