Farewell to Fr Alan as He Begins a New Chapter in North Walsham
It was a sad yet joyful afternoon for many parishioners on Sunday as we gathered to say goodbye to Fr Alan, who now moves on to begin his new ministry in North Walsham.
Fr Alan joined the Cathedral as Dean in 2022, just three years into his priesthood. In a relatively short time, he has made a lasting impression on the life of our Cathedral parish and the wider community. His warmth, dedication and pastoral care have been a blessing to so many.
Fr Alan has been appointed Parish Priest of Sacred Heart in North Walsham, serving not only Sacred Heart but also St Helen’s in Hoveton and St John of the Cross in Aylsham. We keep him in our prayers as he takes up this new responsibility and continues his priestly ministry.
One of Fr Alan’s final acts as Dean has been to support the fundraising efforts for the restoration of our stained-glass windows. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of parishioners and visitors, more than £80,000 has been raised. This remarkable achievement has enabled the first two windows to be removed and sent away for specialist repair: an enduring sign of faith and shared commitment to the beauty of our Cathedral church.
In his final message in the parish newsletter, Fr Alan wrote:
“I want to finish my time here by thanking all the parishioners of Holy Apostles and the Cathedral parish for their love, support and encouragement over the last three and a half years.”
He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Cathedral staff and volunteers for their dedication, and to “all of the parishioners who have greeted me so warmly and contributed to the life of the mother church of the diocese.”
Fr Alan will be greatly missed by many within our community, including the SJB Youth Group and those currently taking part in our Understanding Catholicism course as they prepare to be received into the Catholic Church. His encouragement and presence in these groups have been especially valued.
While we are saddened to see him go, we give thanks for all that Fr Alan has shared with us and for the foundations he has helped to strengthen. We wish him every blessing in North Walsham and assure him of our continued prayers as he begins this new chapter in his ministry.