Mass and a parish reception

Michael Bunce celebrates 25 years in the priesthood

At mass. The Reverend was supported by his family

C.M.W..Maó

The Santa Margarita Church in Es Castell was packed on Saturday evening with a mixture of regular church-goers, guests, local authorities and the Chaplain´s family who had travelled from the U.K. (a special effort being made by his mother who is blind and suffers from rheumatoid arthritis); all present to help the Reverend Dr. Michael Bunce celebrate 25 years in the priesthood. Amongst those invited to the celebration were the Mayoress of Es Castell, Irene Coll, the Mayor of Sant Lluís, Llorenç Carretero, the Honorary British Vice-Consul, Deborah Hellyer, Father Silvino Berruette, and Robert and Vicki Barr, representing the Bishop of Menorca who was unable to attend.

Born in 1949, Michael Bunce was converted to Christianity on Cleethorpes beach at the age of 14. He studied theology at St. Andrew´s University in Scotland, then at Westcott House, Cambridge, where his tutor was Rowan Williams (now Archbishop of Canterbury). Following his ordination in Lincoln Cathedral in 1981 he worked as a curate in Grantham before moving to Scotland where he worked a lot with the underprivileged (drunks, drug addicts and down and outs). For the last six and a half years he has acted as the Anglican Chaplain in Menorca and describes Santa Margarita as the best parish he has had in his 25 years in the Church.

Following the Mass a reception was held in the patio of the Town Hall, courtesy of the Mayoress, and the congregation was treated to a sumptuous buffet prepared by the ladies of the church and various speeches in praise of the reverend and his tireless work in the parish. A letter received from the Archbishop of Canterbury was also read out in which Rowan Williams sent his best wishes to his former student.