RECENT EVENTS

Paul Wilkinson retired from his post as Vicar of the Parish of Newbold-on-Avon on 30th April 2026, some 36 years after his Installation!

When his last service was over, he was given a Memory Book, after a short address outlining his career.

A former Churchwarden said…

My wife and I met you before you were appointed Vicar, when we showed you the Newbold half of the Parish, and Arthur Webster showed you Long Lawford, that’s 36 years ago!

So now a few statistics!

1000 Baptisms!....

And we heard that for the most recent one you did, the Mum said you had baptised her and was insistent that you baptised her daughter before you left. When you mentioned this in the service, half a dozen other hands shot up with people saying you’d baptised them too! …. And you baptised both our grandchildren, in 2005 and 2008.

300 weddings, including our daughter Alice in 2000

1500 funerals,

including that of the Mayor, Joe Reeve, when the road was closed, the civic mace was carried into church and placed, shrouded, on the Altar.

….and that of Mrs Clarke, of the butcher family, at the age of 105, the oldest of your deceased.

3000 different sermons. Including many influenced by your study of the Celtic Saints – there’s nothing more we need to know about them now!

35 church AGMs. and about 180 PCC meetings - what stamina!

You were Chaplain to the Warwickshire Scouts for 15 years, attending many jamborees and camps

Then you were Prison Chaplain for another 14 years.

Also, by choice, you were a Governor of both the Riverside Academy and Long Lawford schools.

Your work with the schools has been a great success, and it has been a delight to see and hear the Riverside crocodile coming to church for their services 3 times a year. Long may it continue!

And you were an ex-officio Trustee of the Boughton Leigh Long Lawford charity. So the vicar does do a little more than take Sunday Services!

Memorable events over the years included meeting Prince Edward when he came to open the Avon Valley school,

and holding a discussion with Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education, here in church one Education Sunday.

Then there were the annual events, such as Wake Sunday, when the Royal British Legion led the parade of the uniformed organisations through the village to church and the Mayor attended.

There were the church fete and the Christmas Tree Festival, which started in 2004, over 20 years ago.