IT was a decision they wrestled with and prayed on, but John and Kath Charlton are finally packing up their kit bag.
The Salvation Army couple's stint on the island was initially for three years, but by popular request they extended it to five. Now, after seeing the congregation swell by 300 per cent, they feel ready to pass the baton on.
'We've been able to help people change their lives and become different people,' says John. 'We've done what we were called here to do.'
For them, Alderney was much more than a job. It was a clarion call to arms. Even now John can't talk about it without a shudder of emotion.
In 1999 he and his wife, Kath, both teachers from North Wales, had been staying at Honeysuckle Cottage with former Salvation Army officer Pauline Redhead. She told them she would shortly be leaving her post to move to the mainland for family reasons.
'I said we wished we could do something to help,' recalled John. 'I looked at Kath and she looked at me. I had a feeling inside that I can only describe as a burning. It was such an intense emotional thing. The Holy Spirit was calling us to work."
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors. 