Below is the Revered George Hadow’s open letter, dated August 5th 1901, to the village, announcing that he was leaving. Although it was written 120 years ago it has many parallels with comments heard today.
To my Beloved People of Calstone and Blackland – Farewell
CALSTONE RECTORY,
August 5th, 1901.
My dear Friends,
I write these few words of ‘ farewell ‘ to you because I shall not be able to speak them publicly to you, and I think there are some who would not be able to bear to hear them. Twenty-one years have nearly passed since I came amongst you to be your Pastor, and surely no one ever received a more kindly welcome than my family and I did from you. It is true that I was no stranger to some of you, many had known me in my early years, but your kindness was extended to my wife and family for which I can never thank you enough. Many of those most kind have long since been called from this life, may GOD bless them in that other life. There are many however who are still here. These 21 years have passed very quickly, and I can see so plainly now the many mistakes made, the wrong judgements formed, the want of patience, of perseverance, and of faith in GOD’S love and power, and the many opportunities I have neglected, and the worst of all these things is that I have been a hindrance and a stumbling block to you instead of a help and comfort as I should have been.
I hope GOD will forgive me when I have to give account of my stewardship, and that you will not only forgive me, but pray that I may be more faithful and brave in the parish where He has called me to work. In spite of these misunderstandings GOD has given us many happy hours together which we (my family and myself) can never forget, and we shall always remember you and your families in our prayers.
And now I should like to write a few last words of counsel. At the present day there are great many signs of growing indifference to religion amongst all classes of people; Churches are not so well attended as they used to be some years ago; the Lord’s Day is not thought of or regarded so much as it used to be; in some cases it is from a growing love of one’s own pleasure to the neglect of GOD and the things of GOD: in others it is a deeper and more absorbed attention to worldly gain and profit; so Church-going, Worship, Prayer, Bible-reading, Holy Communion, fall into a second place instead of being the first and most important. I pray most fervently that you, my very dear people, will not allow these things to interfere with your soul’s profit. Forgive me when I say that I have seen some signs amongst ourselves of neglect of Public Worship, of observance of the Lord’s Day, and of regular attendance at the Holy Communion. Let me remind of what the Word of GOD tells of the principle of attendance at Church; it must be from our love to GOD-
“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My Holy Day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the Holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” ISAIAH LVIII, 13-14. Again, “Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” -ACTS xx, 7.
We are parting now, my beloved people, in some cases never in this world to meet again: when we next meet it will be before the Judgement Seat of Christ. Oh! in that day may He be merciful to us all. Fathers and Mothers watch over, guard, guide, above all pray for your dear children. In the Schools here and at their service I have spent some of my happiest hours, my greatest delight; may GOD bless them! For yourselves pray for your Pastor: some of us have been praying that a God-fearing earnest man may be sent, (while I write this I know not who it may be). Go on praying for him when he comes, welcome him with the same warm hearts as you welcomed us. You cannot tell the difficulties of the work of a Parish Priest: how much he needs higher power than his own: think of him always as one whom GOD has sent. And now good bye my very dear Calstone and Blackland people; thank you for all your love and kindness to my wife and children; thank you for all your ready and constant help to me. I have only one thing more to ask of some of you. The two last Sundays of this month will be our last together. I shall have as many celebrations of the Holy Communion as I can to give you all an opportunity of Communicating once more with me, will you do your best to come on one of these occasions ? and in the strength which GOD alone supplies let us be brave and true, trying to live up to our holy calling, walking as Children of Light, following the steps of your dear Master, always setting a bright and good example, learning to know Jesus Christ more, serving Him better, loving Him more deeply; and then that GOD may ever bless, guide, and keep you will be my constant prayer for you all.
Your very faithful and loving Friend,
GEORGE R. HADOW.