In the 20th year since its inauguration, six people from across the Diocese of Salisbury were last weekend (26 October) awarded the Cross of St Aldhelm at a service in Salisbury Cathedral.
The Cross of St Aldhelm was established by Bishop David Stancliffe in 2005, the year that marked the 1300th anniversary of the consecration of St Aldhelm as the first Bishop of Sherborne, a position he held until his death in AD 709. Selected by the sitting Bishop of Salisbury, the crosses are awarded every year to people from across the Diocese of Salisbury who have shown exceptional commitment and service to their churches and the Christian community. The crosses were presented during a special Choral Evensong at the Cathedral by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Stephen Lake, and the recipients were: Steve Abbott, Gary Hepburn, Jackie Molnar, Valerie Potter, Neil Skelton and Rosemary Tong.
With a life-long dedication to church music, there has not been a diocesan service in Salisbury Cathedral at which Steve Abbott has not sung since 1985. Steve retired earlier this year after 40 years in post as Decani Alto Lay Vicar, and now directs the St John Singers, the Cathedral Youth Choir and the new Cathedral staff choir.
Gary Hepburn has served his church and community in many ways over the past 50 years, including as a churchwarden, scout leader, school governor and chair of a number of Weymouth charities. Particularly worthy of mention is a national Facebook group that Gary set up to connect, update and support churchwardens from across the UK, which now has more than 3000 members.
After a career as a senior manager in the education and public sectors spanning more than 30 years, Jackie Molnar joined Salisbury Cathedral as Chapter Clerk – Chief Operating Officer – 10 years ago, entrusted with overseeing the breadth of the Cathedral’s life. Jackie previously chaired the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship, is currently a trustee of the Sarum St Michael Educational Trust, and as a lay worship leader, has led worship in her parish church since 2006.
As a churchwarden, Val Potter worked to remove and rehome a controversial monument from her church, St Peter’s in Dorchester, on the basis that it did not convey the message of the universality of God’s love. Val used her gifts for collaboration to work with the congregation and support the monument’s removal to a museum. Her example of how to respond to contested heritage has been cited many times by the national Church.
Neil Skelton’s service to the diocese began in 1980. Since then, he has served the church community in many different capacities: on the Diocesan Advisory Committee as adviser on bells, on the Redundant Churches Uses Committee, as a trustee of the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust, as well as the Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers in a number of offices, including that of Master.
A skilled educational adviser, Rosemary Tong has contributed significantly to the life of education in the diocese. Rosemary was chair of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust (DSAT), taking the trust through a significant phase of transition before her retirement in 2024. Rosemary has been Chair of Governors of Cranborne schools and continues to serve as a trustee of DSAT.
Bishop Stephen Lake said:
“Each of this year’s Cross of St Aldhelm recipients reflects the heart of Christian service – faithful and generous, with their work and service often going unremarked and unseen. It is a privilege to honour these remarkable individuals whose commitment strengthens our church, our communities and our common life in Christ.”
More images from the ceremony can be viewed here.