Folk star helps parish bid farewell to popular rector, Teesdale Mercury

VISIT St Michael’s Church, in Barningham, during a normal Sunday service and only a handful of people will be there.

But the small congregation is the tip of the iceberg when it comes the church’s activity in the village.

Pop along to village walks, fetes, pub quizzes, toddler groups, shows, fundraising appeals, fancy dress days around the Barningham area, and there’s a chance Revd Christopher Cowper won’t be far away.

However, the rector hasn’t been forced to mix with the community because of fewer worshippers. In fact, getting stuck into local life has always been the lot of a village rector, Mr Cowper says.

“If you live in a small community, people have to work together. It’s impossible to work here, if you don’t have the attitude of getting involved,” he adds.

But parish life is coming to an end for Mr Cowper. He is retiring after more than a decade of serving the people of Barningham, Wycliffe, Hutton Magna and Scargill.

However, the parish isn’t letting him go quietly.

His wife, Christine, arranged for a special treat for Mr Cowper on Friday when folk star Maddy Prior performed a one-off show in his honour in the church.

Mrs Cowper says: “We’ve always followed her and my husband is a big fan.

“I wrote a cheeky letter to her, saying he was retiring and that it was his 65th birthday in June. I said, ‘I know you probably don’t do this, but would you sing for him’?”

Several months later, the phone rang. It was Maddy Prior, who has performed at The Sage theatre, in Gateshead.

The singer agreed to sing in Barningham Church.

“Maddy said that her agent would kill her, but she’d do it. We couldn’t believe it,” Mrs Cowper says.

About 150 people watched the singer perform on Friday – five days after the vicar’s birthday. The folk star shared dinner with the couple earlier that evening.

English folk musicians Band of Rogues, from Hutton Magna, also played at the event, along with a harpist.

An official farewell service at St Michael’s is planned for July 26 – a little over 11 years after Mr Cowper and his wife came to the village.

Mr Cowper was born in Penrith and ordained in 1968 after studying at King’s College, London.

Mr Cowper has been a vicar in Cumbria most of his life, but says his time in Teesdale has been among his happiest.

“We’ve made lots of friendships because there’s such a community here. We’ve made links with so many people through groups like Barningham Bears, the pudding club, the Teesdale Trotters walking group and the book club.

“There’s also been a marvellous team of people who keep our churches in shape. They do a fantastic job,” says the vicar, who has also been heavily involved with Barnard Castle Rotary Club.

His wife, who is also a church reader, said: “We just love the people. That’s why we’re only moving to Ripon.”

Her husband quickly adds: “It’s far enough away not to interfere, but close enough to stay in touch.”

If there’s one thing that the couple don’t want to lose contact with, it’s the local sense of humour.

Opposite the rectory stands a stone circle that was erected as a joke. It still fools walkers who ask why it’s not on a map.

Things took another surreal twist several years ago when landowner Sir Anthony Milbank made a life-size guillotine to celebrate a village French-themed event.

And to celebrate the vicar’s 60th birthday, the landlord of the village pub dressed up as a vicar and gatecrashed a local event.

“Neil Turner from the pub wore a mustache and a dog collar – no one knew who he was until he spoke, so he just sat there and grunted so not to give the game away. 

“Someone came up to me and said, ‘I don’t know who your friend is but he is rude and surly’.”

When asked what he’ll do in his retirement, the vicar says: “Clergy never actually retire. The Bishop of Ripon wants me to work in the diocese just as soon as I’m settled in.”