GALMPTON Church was packed on Sunday as people said goodbye to the Reverend Faith Culley at the annual Harvest Festival.

Faith is retiring and returning to Ireland with her mother Charlotte, having served in semi-retirement for nine years in Galmpton and Hope Cove. She also helped out at Salcombe and Malborough and around 150 people from all the churches in the benefice joined together for the service.

In celebration of her nine years commitment to the area, the Reverend Daniel French, vicar of Salcombe Benefice, spoke about their special relationship and said that on many occasions they had been known as Morecombe and Wise.

Church Warden Amanda Phillips wished her well in her retirement and made a presentation from donations given by the congregation and quoted several highlights of her stay in Galmpton and Hope Cove.

Amanda said: ‘There were many quite funny events but probably the two everyone still remembers are when Faith tried to walk on water on a submerged surfboard but fell off, and the lifeboat pulled her out of the water.

‘Another time, at the Epiphany service on Hope Cove beach, she fell into the lifeboat after a helping hand from Father Daniel failed and re-appeared in a somewhat dishevelled state. This was Faith and she and her mother Charlotte will be sorely missed.’

People noted that Rev Faith had a very caring side and although officially semi-retired, she could often be seen throughout the benefice working long hours.

The congregation applauded for a long time at the end of the service and that was the only time Faith allowed a little emotion to show.

All the congregation stayed on for a superb ‘bring and share buffet lunch’, together with a glass of bubbles, and chatted with Faith and Charlotte.