A POPULAR vicar is to retire after serving her parish for five years.

Sue Cruse will retire in June, aged 65, following her time as a team vicar with the Gosfield and Greenstead Green parish at St Catherine’s Church, which has a congregation of about 50 people every week.

She said: “My husband, a former accountant, has been retired for three or four years now and it’s time I spent some time with him.

“We have three children and five grandchildren. The youngest is three months and the eldest is 11.

“It’s definitely the right time to retire. I’m getting tired and my youngest grandchild lives in Guildford, which is not an easy journey. If I see him I need to stay overnight and I’m the only grandma he’s got.

“As in most areas, there have been cutbacks. Once I go I will not be replaced, so there won’t be anyone for Gosfield or Greenstead Green, but they will be looked after by team vicar, Katie de Bourcier.”

Mrs Cruse will move with her husband Ian, 67, to their home in Castle Hedingham and the Vicarage in Church Road, Gosfield, may be sold or let out in the near future.

Archdeacon Robin King said: “We are very sorry to see Sue go. She’s a great vicar.

“This is happening across the whole area. Even if we had all the money in the world, there still wouldn’t be enough clergy in the Church of England to replace those retiring.”