Last updated at 14:34, Thursday, 29 July 2010

HE greets everybody he meets with a warm hug and a swift “How you doing pet?”

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Which is why, upon entering his vicarage in Haltwhistle, Canon Raymond Best’s windowsills, hearth and kitchen fridge are swarming with cards wishing him well in his retirement.

It’s plain to see just how much popularity the charismatic vicar has gained during his 10-and-a-half years at the pulpit of Holy Cross Church in Haltwhistle and St Cuthbert’s Church at Greenhead – and how much he will be missed.

Today, less than a week after he celebrated his 68th birthday, Canon Best is enjoying his final day as minister for the two churches before he and his wife Maureen pack their bags and head north for Swarland, near Alnwick.

For 36 years he has been serving parishes stretching the length of Hadrian’s Wall after starting out life in Wallsend.

“I’ve worked at churches in Westerhope, Ashington, Benwell, Walker, Haltwhistle and Greenhead,” he said. “Funnily enough, Ashington is not too dissimilar to Haltwhistle as they’re both mining communities set in the countryside.

“No two parishes are the same, and although the message is the same, you have to adapt and adjust to the community in which you serve.

“I’ve always said get out and take the church’s message to the people – you can’t wait for the community to come to you.”

When Canon Best first found out he was heading to Haltwhistle more than a decade ago, he admits he felt rather nervous.

“I wondered what life would be like out in the sticks,” he said. “It’s the last parish before you drop off the end and enter the diocese of Carlisle.

“I felt privileged to be immediately accepted here, because people can often be in Haltwhistle for 10 years or more and still be classed as a stranger!

“Now I can’t walk anywhere in the town without being stopped and spoken to – I really enjoy that aspect of it.”

According to the canon, the beating heart of Haltwhistle is its community spirit.

The town suffered when Northumberland’s last remaining drift mine, located at Greenhead, closed in 2002.

The paintworks, a huge employer in Haltwhistle, had also been axed before Canon Best arrived in the South Tyne capital.

He believes that at grim times like these townsfolk rally together and look out for one another.

He said: “People do care, not just about each other, but about the place itself and its future.

“Tourism is really developing here and we need to attract more people into the area. We could also do with a couple of major employers coming in.”

A true pioneer in his field, Canon Best has brought in some major changes during his stint in Haltwhistle.

He changed the order of service and introduced a more modern feel to church sermons shortly after he arrived.

He also personalised local baptisms, weddings and funerals, which boosted his popularity across the town and surrounding area.

A new path through the churchyard was pushed forward as well as a complete decorative overhaul of the Holy Cross Church interior.

One of his predecessors, the hugely popular Canon Robert Cook, preached at Holy Cross Church for 18 years – and in the early days the new man found he had to stamp his own style on proceedings.

He said: “I’ve always allowed photos to be taken inside the church during special events like weddings and baptisms.

“I remember one member of the congregation saying, Canon Cook would never have allowed that. I simply replied: “Well, I’m not Canon Cook!”

Canon Best has introduced personalised weddings, baptisms and funerals to involve people in the services; those who might want to sing, read or play an instrument.

“We’ve had harpists, bag pipes and one lady who rolled a baby grand piano into church!” he said. “It just makes the occasion special so it’s something worth remembering.

“To me, worship and life is synonymous and there’s no point preaching a sermon unless it has some meaning behind it. I’m not into reading things out and doing things just for the sake of it.”

For Canon Best, the idea of rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty is a much more appealing approach, mirroring that of the early Northumbrian preachers who brought Christianity to the area by going among the people.

“I don’t like the image of God sitting on his cloud and looking down on people,” he said. “Religion is about being with the community, during times bereavement and joy. I choose to follow the earthliness of the patron saints because they weren’t afraid of rolling their sleeves up and getting on with the job.”

By shepherding his Haltwhistle flock so successfully, Canon Best has had to be prepared for all the visitors he welcomes into his home on a daily basis.

Dozens of townsfolk knock on the vicarage door every week to make enquiries or to simply bend their beloved vicar’s ear for half an hour or so.

“People come here just to talk,” he said. “I suppose they feel it’s a safe place to come and they know that someone will always be here to listen.

“It’s quite isolated out here and that’s why, I think, people tend to look after their own.

“Haltwhistle has it’s own unique identity – it’s not Hexham and it’s not Brampton and people living here are proud to say that this is where they belong.”

Canon Best attended a number of farewell ceremonies the week leading up to his retirement, including special services at Hexham Abbey and Holy Cross, where the Ellington Colliery Brass Band performed on Sunday.

Well-wishers travelled from as far as Aberdeen and Southampton to say goodbye – and Raymond and Maureen were taken aback when friends from Australia flew in especially to mark the occasion.

There were more than 300 people crammed into Holy Cross church during a celebration of the priesthood on Saturday and there were even more in attendance at the canon’s final service the following day. Both he and Maureen will move out of the vicarage on August 2 and he plans to use his well earned retirement to re-discover a long-lost passion.

“I played the organ before I came here and it’s something I really miss,” he said. “There’s a lot of walking to be done and I’ll take the opportunity to spend more time with my four grandchildren.

“There are so many memorable moments both Maureen and I will take away with us, too many to mention.”

First published at 09:39, Friday, 23 July 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk