'It's very sad': Walsall vicar delivers farewell sermon online after 13 years at church
A Walsall vicar has told of his sadness at leaving his congregation at a time when the church building is closed.
The Rev Mark Kinder is bidding farewell after 13 years at St Paul's at the Crossing to take up a new appointment as a chaplain at Stoke Heath Prison, in Shropshire.
As the town centre ministry leader he has been at the forefront of major events including the annual Remembrance Day and the Walking the Way of the Cross processions.
He delivered his farewell sermon by YouTube video.
"I am standing outside the church which is closed because of the coronavirus outbreak," he said.
"It's a really a difficult time for the congregations as they are not able to get to church. It looks like a really difficult time to be leaving.
"But my appointment to become a chaplain at Stoke Heath was made last year before the virus came. It is very sad. I have not been able to say farewell to people, but my thoughts are with them and I hope things will get better soon.
"We have been streaming services on Facebook and via videos and have been doing all we can to gather in difficult circumstances.
"Myself and my family have had a wonderful time in Walsall. I was the vicar of two congregations St Paul's and at St Luke's, in Chuckery.
Wonderful
"I have had wonderful support from the congregations and from the community.
"I also want to pay tribute to all the staff at The Crossing, including those in the coffee shop and the shops. We have worked hard together to get through difficult times trading.
"It has been tough in recent years, but we have kept going due to hard work and by operating as a team."
Among the projects he has overseen include efforts to increase provision of the homeless resulting in the council setting up a winter shelter, Highs' and Lows', working closely with Black Country Foodbank by issuing vouchers for collecting food, organising vigils, working with pubs and promoting community cohesion, and dealing with the impact of three English Defence League marches.
The 53-year-old is married to wife Helen and they have three grown up children - Ella, Jack and Tom.
He explains that the prison chaplaincy move has been subject to a rigorous selection procedure over many months.
"I will be part of a chaplaincy team including Catholics and Muslims," he added.
"It's been enjoyable being a vicar, but I felt it was time to explore being a vicar in the context of prison. I'll be learning new skills and learning to relate to prison life in difficult times.
"I'll be trying to share the Christian message of love and inclusiveness with people who have done bad things. It's about giving them a new start and giving them a future."
