A CHURCH congregation have bid a fond farewell to their departing minister.

The Rev Beryl Allerton conducted her final service at Bury Unitarian Church on Sunday, May 29, after five and a half years.

The 71-year-old, who was a member of the church from her childhood, had initially offered to take on the role on a temporary basis, but felt compelled to stay far beyond her initial six-month stint.

More than 80 people attended her final service and she was presented with a pair of diamond earrings, before the congregation joined her for lunch at the Red Hall Hotel.

Mrs Allerton, whose husband John was also minister at the church for 34 years before his retirement, said: "I have really been at the church all my life. It used to be three churches before they merged, and I was brought up here.

"I was a minister at the Unitarian churches in Whitefield and Bolton before, and I have been here for five and a half years.

"This is actually my second retirement. Bury has always been my church and when the previous minister left, I offered to do six months there for them. That has now lasted for five and a half years.

"We have a caravan in Yorkshire so we will be spending some time over there now we are both retired, and my paints have been sat under the bed for years so I'm looking forward to getting them out.

"It's been an honour and a privilege to be the minister at this church, I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Anne Mills, chairman of the congregation, added: "More than 80 people attended the service, all of whom had come to wish Beryl well, at the end of a highly successful ministry.

"At Beryl's request, the church had been decorated with several arrangements of white and cream flowers, which provided a beautiful background to this very special occasion.

"At lunch, I proposed a toast to wish Beryl a long, happy and successful retirement; I paid tribute to her energy, enthusiasm, commitment, devotion, and generosity, and thanked her for all she had done for the congregation.

"We are sorry to lose her, she will be greatly missed and very difficult to replace."