downsmail.co.uk


Retiring vicar facing her ‘biggest challenge’


AN enforced six-month break fromtheChurchis likely toprove the biggest challenge yet for Rev MillieHart (pictured). After taking services in Lenham,


Ulcombe, Harrietsham and Boughton Malherbe for 30 years, she admits: “The time for reflection will break a life-time commitment to pastoral care, which will come very hard.” Giving up three services every


Sunday will be a hard habit to break, says the 70-year-old former social worker, but leaving those she has helpedwill be farworse. “It does feel a little like abandon


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ship.Unfortunately, in theChurch, everyone is asked to take a com- plete break when they reach my age and, inspite of askingfor anex- tension, this iswhat I have to do.” She will be able to apply in six


months’ time for permission to of- ficiate as a retired vicar, and at the time of speaking, this remainedher hope. In the meantime, she re-


flected on her time in the Church, after moving out of London to Harrietsham, where she raised three children and opened the nursery at Lenham Primary School. After 17 years she became a ley


minister, describing her training as intense, even for a “cradle Chris- tian”, with religious parents. Her


call totheministrysawher leave the nursery–withgoldfishElvis, which she stillhas,aged26–totrainforher ordination 10 years ago. She remembers: “When I told


my husbandandsonIhaddecided to become a vicar, they said they probably wouldn’t notice the dif- ference because Iwas always busy helping people anyway. Neither think I’ll be at home for very long.” She continued: “I think people


can associate with me because I have lived among them; I’ve been married to John for 47 years and my children have grown up with them; they knowI’mjust the same as them,with the same problems.” As a consequence, she says: “I


haven’t had as much time as I’d like for the family and my three grandchildren or to develop hob- bies, somaybe it’s about time.” Milliewill lead her last service –


a Thanksgiving – at 10.30am on September 1 at St John the Baptist Church,Harrietsham.


News Garden plan


AREQUESTforgovernment funding for a plan to turn a village park into a sensorygardenhasbeenturneddown. Hollingbourne Parish Council


learnedtherequestfor£250totheMin- istry of Housing (which was previ- ously reported in Downs Mail) has beenrejecteddue toahighnumberof applicants. Themoney would have provided


sensoryequipment andplants forvil- lagerswithphysicalandmentalhealth problems. Theminister has encouraged those


behindtheideatokeeptheprojectalive and to apply for funding elsewhere, suggesting going to the website www.mycommunity.org.uk.


Get stitching


LOOKINGfor a hobbywith blanket coverage?CountryWaysQuiltersand Stitchers couldbeforyou. Thegroupmeetsfrom2-4pmonthe


firstandthirdTuesdayinthemonthin the Osborne Room, Lenham Com- munity Centre. The teamwelcomes quiltersandstitchersofallabilities,giv- ingmembersnewskills anda chance tosocialise, sayorganisers. For more information, ring Mar-


garetMitchellatthecommunitycentre on01622853800.


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