A CHURCH leader husband and wife team have paid tribute to Barry and the Vale ahead of their departure from the area following seven years’ service.

Reverend Peter and Deacon Samantha Taylor, Methodist ministers in the Vale of Glamorgan, and their children Rosie and Matthew, will move to Sutton in Ashfield, in North Nottinghamshire, this August.

Rev Taylor will work across five churches in the Nottinghamshire area and Deacon Taylor will work across three church communities in Derbyshire.

The ministers replacing them are Rev Catherine and Deacon John Brobbey.

Rev Taylor said ‘It has been good to serve four Churches of Crossway, St. David’s, Barry Island, St Athan and the community. I have enjoyed working with my ecumenical colleagues. Back in 2012 we launched the first Churches of Barry (COB) Good Friday Walk of Witness. This important day in the Christian calendar has grown over the years and brings a good number of local Christians from many denominations together to be a credible witness to the town. I have enjoyed leading COB Summer Praise on Barry Island, a great place in my opinion to be and do church.

I enjoyed leading sports related worship events and I will always be grateful to Barry Town United for allowing me to lead a Football and Faith event during the 2016 World Cup, at the club social club.

“A lot goes on in the week all led and hosted by churches, including foodbanks, Messy Church and kids events, toddler groups, leading services in care homes and mid-week groups with food, teas and coffees and friendships for senior citizens.”

Deacon Taylor said she looked back with “joy”.

She said: “The schools have been amazing at welcoming us, and helping our children. We can’t praise the work of the schools enough here. Church holiday clubs have been a particular strength within the Methodist churches here, each year well over a 100 children have attended in the different Methodist churches. The children have fun and learn more about Jesus and the Bible. It was great to work with ecumenical colleagues to get Christmas the Story up and running. That is something I am going to really miss. Working with Citizens Cymru has been good.

“We’ve come into contact with a lot of people in churches and in the community at times of great joy, at times of frustrations and also at times of unimaginable sadness. It will be hard to leave behind friendships we’ve made, but I hope that in all we’ve done to try and serve this community with the Methodist church, is to point people to the fact that the love of God is for all.

“We will miss this place so much, it is a beautiful part of the world. The love and friendliness of the Welsh will go with us and not be forgotten.”