“I’ve spent half my life here!”

Jan Smith has spent half her life serving our church in the front office. When she began the office was filled with the sounds of desk phones and the famous Gestetner machine smell so she would go home every night with blackened fingers having ensured everything was ready so that everyone would receive all the information they needed on Sunday. Given we now live encased in the information superhighway, you can imagine how the role has transformed over the years; Jan has had to upskill to the Google Suite, Slack, Xero, digital copying and more and she has done it with grace and a perpetually encouraging smile.

So it is with sadness that I share with you that on Monday Jan announced to the staff team that she is going to relinquish her position on the team in the next two months.   

I was absolutely delighted to discover that Jan was still working in the church office when I returned to Christ Church in 2020 and she has easily been the most enthusiastic supporter of all we have done at church over the last three years in the midst of Covid chaos.

Jan was first employed by Dudley Foord in answer to her prayers that she might find a job to help support her family. She has worked with (read endured) 5 Senior Ministers with all their quirks, particularities and eccentricities, seen dozens of staff members come and go, liaised with scores of wardens and parish councilors, and navigated innumerable technology changes, building changes and policy changes. 

In the midst of all that change, the fact that Jan did not change, that she remained steady as a caring and comforting voice on the end of the phone and on emails, has been a blessing to our church members and all those we interact with in the local community. Jan knows more about our church than anyone ever will and her godly wisdom is invaluable. It is for this reason that we hope Jan will remain an integral part of our care ministry and will still be seen around the office meeting with people and talking on the phone to those who are in need.

More will be said, and a celebration will be had but for now please pray with great thanks for Jan and her remarkable and wonderful service to our church over decades. Thanks Jan, you are the best.