IT will be the end of an era in the church life of Lochgelly next week when someone who has spent the past 19 years helping in the community leaves for a new charge.

Rev Jon Magee came to take over at Lochgelly Baptist Church in 1997 after almost a year of preaching as a locum at the Station Road church and it was to be the start of a ministry which saw him become involved in so many community causes.

While very keen to play the role of the town's Baptist minister, he was also soon to become a member of Lochgelly Community Council; become the chairman of the steering committee which set up the CLoCK Street Pastors scheme and also became a friend of Cowdenbeath Rotary Club helping out rotarians with a number of their initiatives.

He recalled the early days of his ministry: "I was preaching as a locum in Lochgelly on a monthly basis but then I was asked if I would like to take on being the minister of Lochgelly Baptist Church on a full-time basis.

"I needed no second thought and was soon settling in to the community."

Rev Magee, who came to Lochgelly from an Edinburgh parish was soon setting up a mothers and toddlers group at the church hall, children's and teenagers' clubs and the Coffee Mates Group every Friday morning for men to meet and have a blether about up to date issues of a local and national nature.

He also helped set up a Support Group for families serving in the Gulf War.

One of the things about his ministry that he has enjoyed most is bringing some pretty famous artistes to Lochgelly. These include Paul Jones or Manfred Man fame, John Gaughan of Herman's Hermits, George Hamilton IV and Helen Shapiro.

Rev Magee added: "These people had really interesting stories to tell about how their lives changed from being pop stars to seeking to renew their faith.

"Their stories captured the imagination of not only the congregation of Lochgelly Baptist Church but also the people of the town in general."

The community spirit of Lochgelly is something that Jon Magee noticed the minute he arrived and he commented: "It has to be the legacy of the mining industry but there is no doubt that the people of the town want to help one another in difficult times and it is magnificent to see."

With the congregation of the Lochgelly operation shrinking the Baptist Church decided to close the kirk in the autumn but Rev Magee has been continuing to preside at weddings and funerals but when the opportunity came up to take on a new charge at Cosely, near Dudley in the West Midlands, he grabbed it with both hands and he will preach his first service on Sunday February 5.

But he is not away for good. Rev Magee will return in July to conduct a Ballingry couple's wedding.