Dear Friends,
 
Here is the text of an announcement I shared with the congregation at the APCM:
 
The greatest privilege of my life has been being a parish priest, especially since, when I first felt called, women were not allowed to be ordained at all. Each parish or community I’ve served has a special place in my heart, as do the wonderful people like you that I’ve served.
 
When I came to Sudbury my plan was that this would be my final post before retirement and that plan hasn’t changed. What has had to change is the date of that retirement. As you know, I had to take 3.5 months off last year, dealing with the effects of stress and the challenge it has been to my mental and physical health. When I came back to work in January, although I knew I wasn’t 100%, my hope was that I would continue to improve. That has not been the case, and I have been unable to serve as the parish priest I am when I am well; the parish priest that you deserve. I have missed things I should have been on top of, and worst of all to me, I have not always had the capacity to give you the pastoral care that I want to give.
 
As you can imagine it has been a painful process to work through, but I have therefore submitted an application for early retirement because of ill health. This being the Church of England that application will take some months to process, meanwhile I shall remain here, on reduced working hours, serving you to the best of my ability. It is likely that I will leave towards the end of the year. It is right that Tom should have the opportunity to experience the placement he missed last year due to COVID, but he will be back in the Autumn. When everything has been processed and I have found somewhere to live, Mum and I will be moving to Sheffield where I served the first 8 years of my ministry. All of you will always be welcome to visit.
 
In the meantime, you can begin preparing a parish profile ready to find the next person whom God is calling to serve here, who I know will be a great Rector of St Gregory’s. I’m sure you will understand that I must have nothing whatever to do with that process myself. Please pray that my application will be accepted, but even if it is not, I cannot continue with integrity in a role I no longer have the capacity for. Please also pray that we can make this process as easy as possible for Mum.
 
I will of course continue to pray for all of you and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.
 
With my love and prayers,
 
Cheryl