METHODISTS across the dale welcomed a new minister to their ranks this month.
Revd Graham Cutler, who has spent the past 12 years serving churches in Chorley, Lancashire, took over from Revd Bev Hollings, on September 1.
He has 19 years’ experience in ministry after working for about the same period in electronics research and development.
He said: “I came to faith at 23 and within six months I was training as a preacher. It was around the time of Band Aid and Live Aid. I could see a lot of problems in the world and I could point to this problem and that problem, but when you point at a problem you have three fingers pointing back at you.”
It was then that he realised through the ministry he could be part of the solution.
Mr Cutler said: “The gospel offers a fresh start, new life, joy – all the great things.”
In his time Mr Cutler attended Cliff Bible College, in Derbyshire, and volunteered at a Christian hospital in Niger’s Sahara.
While in Chorley, he served as part time chaplain to Royal Bolton Hospital, where his wife, Judith, served as radiographer.
During that time he helped people through end of life care and offered support to staff. He said: “You see the best of people in the hospital.”
Mr Cutler and his wife had never visited the dale until he travelled for an interview for the new post last November.
He said: “We were travelling on the A66 on a wet November day.
“I love the countryside anyway, and when we drove into the town we just smiled at each other. The more we have seen of the area – it is absolutely stunning.
“Even the postman stops for a chat – and the delivery drivers. Someone said to me, ‘if someone doesn’t chat to you in Barnard Castle then they are a visitor’.”
Mr Culter revealed the church set up would be “slightly different” in the future with the Teesdale Methodists moving towards a merger with Darlington, with Tim Boocock as superintendent minister, supported by himself and Revd Brian Hutton.
Although church services have resumed in Barnard Castle, with some 36 people attending the first service, Covid-19 lockdown has opened up new opportunities, with the new minister turning to YouTube to offer services online.
People can access the videos by searching for Darlington Methodist Circuit on YouTube.
