Weymouth and Portland's Catholic priest retires after serving community for 14 years

Father Stephen Geddes, the priest in charge of the Parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea, is saying farewell to his flock and returning to his native Scotland to put his feet up.

A retirement party was held for the 75-year-old at the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy on Wyke Road where parishioners got together to say their goodbyes to the much-loved priest and presented him with gifts.

Speeches were made thanking Father Stephen for his care of the people of the parish over 14 years.

Father Stephen Geddes at his retirement party Picture: John Liles

Wearing a baseball cap with the words 'Retiring and loving it!', he thanked everyone for their good wishes and their generosity and the organising of the garden party.

Father Stephen previously owned a haulage business before joining the priesthood and was based in Newquay, Cornwall for five years before moving to Weymouth in 2007.

Taking over from Father Philip Dyson, Father Stephen had the the 'delicate and difficult task' of combining the three parishes in Weymouth and Portland into the new parish of Our Lady, Star of the Sea based at St Joseph’s Church. He also managed the refurbishment and expansion of St Joseph’s and the building of a new parish hall.

The move saw the closure of St Augustine's Church at Lodmoor and Our Lady and St Andrew at the Grove on Portland.

It is unclear what is going to be done with St Augustine’s in the future which has been standing relatively empty since and is a Grade II listed building.

Parishioner John Liles said: "Father Stephen had a big job in the beginning to amalgamate the churches and make changes which could help accommodate everyone.

"He has been a very good priest to us and is very much loved by all the of the parish who has supported him throughout the years and we are now sad to see him go."

Father Geddes will be replaced by Father Anthony O'Gorman who is coming from Newquay to take his place at the beginning of September.