St. Andrew’s United Church – It was a night when friends gathered to throw a celebration for the Rev. Judith Hardcastle who will be leaving St. Andrews United Church at the end of the year.
Hardcastle came to the church and Golden three and a half years ago.
She explained at the celebration at the Seniors Centre that when she was first coming to the area, she did not even know where Golden was.
“The joke was when I was ordained, there was all this kerfuffle about who was going to come to Golden. For anyone in the city, it was like going to the ends of the earth. I didn’t know where it was. Golden has turned out to be such a blessing,” Hardcastle said.
In her time in Golden, she has left many memories and has had a positive effect on the people in the community.
Speakers were given the chance to speak at the event and share stories. The common theme in the speeches was that people were going to miss her after she left, and to thank her for the time she had spent in the area. Speakers spoke of her kind spirit, sense of humour and issues in gardening.
One speaker said that after Hardcastle came to Golden, there were times when meeting at the church resembled the television show Vicar of Dibley.
Town of Golden Mayor Christina Benty said, “I think I can speak for many people in our community… Golden is amazing for the number of people who come into the community and take part. Judith is one of those people who moved into the community and just made a difference.
She did it in a way where she did not try and draw attention to herself, but she was a light everywhere she went. She had respect from the entire community,” Benty said.
“She has been a blessing not only to her church but to the entire community. You are so loved and going to be so missed.”
As Hardcastle prepares to move back to the coast, she has a simple message to send out to the people in the area.
“My church community at St. Andrew’s and the community of Golden have given me so much more than I’ve given them. I am truly blessed—and I’ll miss everyone and everything that has made living in Golden so special,” she said.
