Conisborough Vicar – Parting Gifts & Tributes – Impressive Record

November 1931

Mexborough & Swinton Times, November 13th 1931

Conisborough Vicar

Parting Gifts and Tributes.

An Impressive Record

The Conisborough Church Hall would not accommodate all those who wished to get in last night on the occasion of the last public appearance of the Vicar, the Rev. H. Lee, who will instituted oar of St. Timothy’s, Crookes, Sheffield,on November 27th. The annual parish tea had been specially brought forward.

During an interval Dr. W. J. McClure, vicars wanton, asked Mr. W. Clarkson , the people’s warden, to present an oak table and bookcase to Mr. and Mrs. Lee, as a token of the parishioners’ regard for them. Mr. W. Clarkson said that two hundred pertains had subscribed over £30. Mr. Lee’s work had been appreciated.

He had broken a diocesan by presenting fifty adults for confirmation at one service. During his period at Conisborough, St. Andrew’s Mission had been built, Church House laud been acquired and equipped, and an operatic society had been founded; anal all were flourishing. Mrs. Lee had formed branches of the Mothers Union and Girl’s Friendly Society, which were very much alive. Mr. Lee had infused a spirit into the members of the church which had tended to wane before his arrival. The services had been impressive, reverent, beautiful, and well attended, and his homilies were an inspiration to carry on through the week. As a man all were pleased to see him, for he had kindly and appropriate words for every occasion, and was blessed with a sense of humour.

The congregation were decidedly sorry to lose hint. Mrs. Lee also had been a very present help in trouble. The gifts were tokens of real affection.

Expressing his thanks, the Vicar said the first time he appeared on that platform was at a parish tea, but the present was more of an ordeal. He was being instituted Vicar of St. Timothy’s at 8 p.m. on November 27th and it would be very cheering to see some Conisborough people at the institution. He rather dreaded going where he did not know people. Hlie always met somebody he knew in Conisboro’, and would miss those kindly meetings after 21 years in the area. He did not want to “wear out his welcome” and thought it would be good to have a change. He was happy to know that all would go on at Conisborough as before. The Sunday School had increased, and if the children , stayed he would have done something to  build up future church life. There was a great body of solid “wet or fine” worshippers, and there was a big fringe of others. That solid body would keep the church prosperous. He had not done all the things they said he had done. He had suggested some, but the credit was the congregation’s. He was leaving behind two very able wardens. They were admirable men of judgment and knowledge. He had had splendid officials. He was going to a large parish where there would be no other full-time worker, and he asked that sometimes they at Conisborough would pray for them.