27.02.2023
Stepping Out in Faith – Crinken Says Farewell to Trevor and Ruth Stevenson
The people of Crinken bade a warm and loving farewell to the Revd Trevor and Ruth Stevenson as they embark on the next season of their lives. Trevor has retired after 12 years of ministry in Crinken and people came from far and wide on Saturday evening (February 25) to wish him and his family well.
Following a magnificent supper, guests proceeded to the church where, led by Geoff Scargill, tributes were paid to the departing Rector and his family for their ministry and friendship.
Archbishop Michael Jackson commended Trevor for all the work he had overseen in reordering the church building, from removing the pews to constructing the parish centre. This, he said, had made Crinken a place of hospitality and flexibility. He also talked about the church’s foodbank, the Storehouse, in which he said people were treated with dignity.
He described Trevor as a man of firm faith. “He has a firm faith in God. This is his motivation and it is the wellspring from which he feeds what he does. Trevor also has a firm faith in himself which enables God’s gifts to be used. He has a firm faith in other people which helps build community and his distinctive style of leadership and service has led to an interactivity of responsibility,” the Archbishop commented. “Crinken is not a conventional parish because it is not conventional and it is not a parish but that it not to say that it is not part of the weave of Dublin and Glendalough. Through Trevor you have had the engagement of someone who has been her on both sides of the fence – someone who was here as a parishioner and as part of an international organisation (Fields of Life) and someone who accepted your invitation to be your minister.” Archbishop Jackson added his personal thanks to Trevor for his constant and compassionate friendship.
Taking to the floor with a roving mic, tributes came from many people. Canon David Mungavin, Rector of Greystones, described Trevor as a person whose presence was felt far and wide. David Turner of Church in Chains said he and his organisation had always received a warm and encouraging welcome in Crinken and added that Trevor had a vision beyond Crinken. Cllr Jim Guildea commended him for his outreach to the community of Shankill. Dermot Aughney of the Castle Allotments Group said Trevor had been an inspiration to people at the allotments because of his understanding of plants.
Children and Families Pastor Olly Adams highlighted Trevor’s ability to plant ideas in other people’s heads as well as his and Ruth’s love for Jesus. Youth worker Neil Douglas said it was a privilege to be led by Trevor and Ruth and the peace and trust he found I conversations with Trevor. Rector of the nearby Kill O’ the Grange Parish described Trevor’s vulnerability, heart and compassion.
Trevor thanked everyone who had worked so hard to arrange the evening and thanked Ruth for her constant support and their boys David and Mikey. He said it was hard to know where the 12 years had gone, although there was evidence in a video put together by David, but it had been a privilege to minister in Crinken and to work and walk alongside the people there. “It is hard to leave but it was made very clear to me by a series of Godincidences that I could run the risk of hindering the development of this church. The church will flourish through new ministry,” he said.
He looked back at the ideas and programmes they had run including the Champions of Hope, the Christmas Tree Festival, the outreach in Bray, the Storehouse, Alpha courses, prayer days, the Ukrainian Family Week. “All of these things couldn’t have happened without your generosity. The most important and exciting part of ministry is to see people coming into a living faith in Jesus Christ and it is lovely to see so many of our young people go and serve the Lord. The future of this church is entering an exciting era. I am retiring but the future is bright. I pray that you will support your new minister the way you have supported me,” he said.
Trustee Bishop Ken Clarke brought the evening to a close by remembering his early encounters with Trevor as a shy young farmer. “He knew that God had called him and with great courage he stepped out in faith. He was stepping out of his comfort zone in obedience to God’s call. In both Trevor and Ruth there is utter sincerity, holiness and integrity,” he commented. He outlined a vision for Crinken, and all churches, as it stepped out in faith based on Matthew 28, that they would go into all the world and baptise and teach what Jesus has commanded.
Crinken’s chief trustee Basil Goode said that it was not often that someone as humble as Trevor achieved as much as he did, not only in Crinken but in Fields of Life. He said they had struggled think of a gift which would sum up what both he and Ruth meant to Crinken, but had settled on a trip to the Holy Land.
