Uniting Church Reverend Ray Longmuir celebrates 60 years of ordination

RETIRED Uniting Church Reverend Ray Longmuir will celebrate 60 years of his ordination as a Minister of the Word on Friday 17 October.

The Uniting Church Grahamstown Congregation, which includes Tea Gardens, Karuah, Medowie, Raymond Terrace and Tillgerry, is planning a special event in his honour at the Uniting Church in Tea Gardens on Sunday 19 October.

Rev. Longmuir’s work with the church began in the 1950s when he attended Sydney Missionary and Bible College in Croydon.

He then attended college at night while working full-time at Richard Brady and Sons in Marrickville.

In early April 1959, he became a pre-collegiate at The Entrance, then spent 1960-1962 at the Leigh Theological College in Enfield.

On 1 December 1962, Ray married Lois Dickson.

The couple moved to Bulahdelah to begin his ordination and ministerial life in 1965 – at that time the Bulahdelah church also included Tea Gardens.

This was followed by placements across the New England and Mid-North Coast regions.

In 1966 they moved to Tenterfield at the northern end of the New England region, and then down to Tamworth a year later, where they stayed for four years.

The 1970s ended with a placement in the Tuggerah Lakes Parish, a little closer to the water, where Rev. Longmuir could indulge his fishing hobby.

The mid-1980s brought a move to St Matthew’s at Baulkham Hills, where a population boom saw the very large church running a big Sunday School of several hundred children.

In the 1990s, Ray and Lois headed back to the coast at Kiama, before his official retirement in 1999 and subsequent move to a new home in Tea Gardens, and then to The Grange.

In Tea Gardens, Ray’s lifelong enjoyment of fishing has been augmented by many hours spent out on his boat on the Myall River, while remaining active in the church community.

“Ray has shown a proven ability for being able to gain and grow the interest of children young and old over the years, with many awesome activities including the construction and flying of model rockets” a Grahamstown Congregation representative said.

“This was a real drawcard for the younger generation.

“There was no retirement, as he still preached and fully participated in all areas of church life until quite recently, and for his complete dedication to this work, we are immensely thankful.”

Ray’s wife Lois has always been by his side, and, over the years, has successfully run Women’s Fellowship groups, Sunday Schools, choirs and demonstrated her own passion by playing the organ beautifully.

The couple have two children, Craig and Karen.

By Thomas O’KEEFE