Welcome again to the Rev Andy Larkin and his family. Although they have now been living in Parwich for several weeks, yesterday saw Andy officially take charge of the five parishes of Fenny Bentley, Thorpe, Tissington, Parwich and Alsop en le Dale.
In St Peter’s, which was filled to capacity with members of the five congregations, representatives of the diocesan clergy and friends and visitors, Robert Shields Esq (on behalf of his father) and Sir Richard FitzHerbert, joint patrons of the parishes, presented our new vicar to the Right Rev Humphrey Southern, Bishop of Repton. In a service reflecting both a two thousand year old tradition and the life of our community today the Bishop and the Archdeacon placed the ‘cure of the souls’ of the five parishes into the hands of Rev Andy Larkin, and the Churchwardens handed over maps of the five parishes along with the electoral rolls and the keys of the five churches.
Andy was then formally welcomed by the congregation and local representatives including the Methodist Minister. It was good to have such rousing singing and a positive atmosphere. The welcome was continued informally over wine and nibbles, with (in local tradition) a lot of conversation. Andy and his wife Jo will need some time to process all the new names and new faces from this evening.
Readers of PARWICH.ORG will also have opportunity to meet Rev Andy on-line, as we hope he is also to become an occasional contributor to the Blog.
(Photos JFS)
PARWICH.ORG 
A fantastic and very special evening. Thanks to all who come along, to be a part of it. Don’t I look serious… it was a little overwhelming!
Andy,
I wept when I saw the photos of you. I am so proud of you. Well done, well done, well done.
Lots of love,
Sue
Thanks to all of you who donated towards Haiti – we raised a wonderful £710 for the Disaster Fund!