KNIGHTON Baptist Chapel and schoolroom was full when people from Knighton and the surrounding area came to say farewell to the Rev Maggie Rich. Maggie has been the Baptist Minister in Knighton, Knucklas and Coxall Baptist chapels for the last nine years. She will be going to Idle Baptist church in Bradford at the beginning of November. At the farewell event the Rev Michael Humphries led the thank you's and good wishes for the future to Maggie, as did many others including Rod Smith chairman of the Knighton and District food bank, The Rev Peter Cope chairman of the Knighton and District Churches together, Mrs Falmai Davis president of the Baptist Association of Radnor and Montgomeryshire, Haydn Davies Super Intendent Minister of Radnor and Montgomeryshire, The Rev Melia Cope vicar of the East Radnor Benefice of churches, and others for all the work she has done since coming to Knighton. She was presented with a cheque made up from donations from her Baptist family as well as those from the community and a book "Food of Yorkshire". As well as her Baptist ministry work Maggie was a keen singer and sang in local choirs including the Knighton Methodist church choir and the Llanfair Singers she was also the chairperson of the Choral Festival of Radnorshire. Friend of Maggie's Bryan Leonard wrote and read out three special poems he had written for her including one called 'Wow' Maggie's favourite word. At the event there were representatives from all the clubs, organisations and groups she had been involved with over the years who all had come along to say good bye as well as wishing her all the best in her new Yorkshire ministry. Jane Bywater said "The people of this town will remember Maggie fondly for things like the Knighton and District churches together lunch club, the food bank, her puppets that went to many events with her and visited lots of local school children, her story writing abilities and much more".

The Rev Michael Humphries summed everything up by saying "When we were seeking a minister, all those years ago, we were looking for someone who would preach the Christian Gospel, love the people, and be involved in the community. Maggie has fulfilled these roles with energy and enthusiasm. She has also worked tirelessly for Churches Together in Knighton and District, helping towards a practical unity and cooperation among the churches, and it is largely through her vision that we now have in Knighton a Food Bank and a Lunch Club. She will be greatly missed, and it is with sadness that we say farewell, though we fully recognise that she must follow the call of God wherever that may lead her. We have been privileged to have her here with us for these years, and now we commend her to her new congregation in Bradford, and to her Lord who will sustain her ministry there. Thank you, Maggie, for these nine years".