St. Paul’s Anglican Church has bade farewell to the Rev. Susan Wilson, who officially becomes rector of All Saints Church in Erin on June 1.

At Shelburne, a farewell luncheon followed the 10:30 a.m. service.

Rev. Susan, as she is popularly known, has been highly praised for her community involvement, especially her work with the Shepherd’s Cupboard food bank.

Earlier this month, Mayor Ed Crewson presented her with the town’s Community Excellence Award, a nomination based in part on her five years of chairmanship of the food bank.

“She worked hard at bringing in standardized policies and procedures – a necessary but tiresome task. She has also put in many hours behind the scenes, collecting donations, presenting at service clubs, speaking to clients, working on obtaining charity status – all in an effort to make the delivery of food to the needy of Shelburne run smoothly.”

At Erin, where Rev. Nigel Burnce is interim rector, All Saint’s is a single-charge parish with two Sunday services.

Mr. Burnce said attendance regularly runs between 50 and 60 for the two services.

It was not immediately known who will conduct services at St. Paul’s on the 23rd and 30th. Ms. Wilson’s interim replacement, the Rev. Barbara Sykes, doesn’t arrive until June 6.

Until she retired in 2004, Rev. Barbara Sykes served as Rector of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church in Willowdale. Earlier she served at St. Paul’s Bloor Street in Toronto and St. Thomas a’Becket in Mississauga.

With her husband Ralph, she has travelled extensively and has led numerous tours to the Middle East, Europe, South America and the Pacific region.