A FAMILIAR figure at an Oldswinford church is getting set to say farewell to full-time ministry after announcing his retirement.

Canon Greville Cross, who has been rector at St Mary’s Church, Rectory Road, for more than a decade, will be celebrating his time at the church with a Eucharist service and social gathering on Sunday July 17, starting at 5pm.

While working in the Stourbridge area, Canon Cross, aged 62, has also been chaplain to Stourbridge Air Training Corps, chairman of Churches Together in Stourbridge, chaplain to Mary Stevens Hospice, governor of Oldswinford C E Primary School and a feoffee at Old Swinford Hospital School.

He said: “It has been a great privilege to serve as rector of Oldswinford for the last 13-and-a-half years. My wife Pauline and I have met and worked with some wonderful people and our lives have been greatly enriched by their friendship.

“It has been a very happy and fulfilling time in our lives and we leave warmed with many good memories.”

Although Cannon Cross, who has served in the Diocese of Worcester since 1976, is moving out of St Mary’s he is not leaving the church but taking up a semi-retirement post near Upton on Severn.

In a joint statement, St Mary’s Church wardens Marjorie Ferguson and Edward Haden, said: “Canon Cross has been a very popular and respected rector, a wonderful spiritual leader, friend and support to many during his time at Oldswinford.

“He will be greatly missed but we wish him and Pauline all the very best for what we hope will be a long and happy retirement.”

Services will continue as normal at St Mary’s while a new rector is chosen, for more information visit www.stmaryschurcholdswinford.org.uk