Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 25 March 1892
The Vicar is to Leave
So the venerable Vicar is going to leave after all. I thought he was a fixture for life. He has resided in Conisborough so long that he has now got tired of this sphere of usefulness. Well this is not by any means wonderful – it is perfectly natural. For one thing, fancy having to prepare fresh sermons for many years. I should have got “pumped dry” long, long ago. The “three-year system” would suit me better in that respect, like the Methodist adopt.
The Reverend J.G. Wood has seen the village developed rapidly into an important town, and now he undoubtedly feels that someone younger, and more vigorous is needed to cope with the dense population in the present year of grace. The announcement he made on Sunday did not take the congregation by some surprises might have been expected, but for the intimation which had appeared in the “Times” the previous Friday. The reverend gentleman has been by no means idle during his many years resident in the township, and his successor, I believe, will find the various organisations in good working order.
It may not be generally known that Mr Wood was on the eve of leaving Conisbro during the time Archbishop Thompson was over the dioceses, but the death of his grace put a full stop temporarily to the arrangements.
Where the Reverend J.G. Wood is going is I believe, near the spot by the Reverend T.J. Leslie, former Congregational minister at Mexborough, is labouring.