PARISHIONERS at an Orford church welcomed the return of a very special friend at the weekend when the Archbishop of York, a former vicar of St Andrew's, dropped in.
The Most Rev Dr David Hope was vicar at the Orford church from 1970 to 1974 and has described his years in the parish as some of the happiest in his ministry.
After St Andrew's, Dr Hope went on to become the principal of St Stephen's House Theological College in Oxford, vicar of All Saints in London, then Bishop of Wakefield and Bishop of London before becoming Archbishop of York in 1995.
He returned to the parish at the weekend to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the church's consecration, following a three-day heritage festival at the church.
Dr Hope preached at a special service on Sunday, which celebrated 40 years of parish life, with readings and music chosen for the event.
The current vicar at St Andrew's, Rev Michael Raynor, said: "Many people speak with great warmth about Archbishop David's ministry and tell delightful stories of these times."
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