The congregation of St John’s Church, Midsomer Norton said farewell to their vicar, Father Christopher Chiplin and his wife, Diane, on Sunday, 29th September.

The church was packed for the 9.30 a.m. Eucharist service, which also marked the festival of St Michael and All Angels. The service was followed by fizz, canapés, speeches and presentations.

Christopher and Diane’s work and ministry at St John’s stretches back over the last 25 years. That time has seen the complete restoration of St John’s Church building, a very vibrant and happy period in the life of the church, and many thousands of pounds raised for charities, especially Children’s Hospice South West. Many of Sunday’s speeches commented on how the Chiplins’ family life expanded to include the whole congregation and how central a role their children, Laura, Alice, Giles and Emma played in that work.

The Chiplins are retiring to Salisbury, but will retain a great many friends in Midsomer Norton.