The Rev Shirley Hawke has been at Temuka’s St Peter’s Anglican Church since 2018.
She said she would be stepping away in November to return home to Ashburton to focus on her health.
"It was very hard to make that decision. It was one I thought about for a long, long time, it wasn't an easy decision."
It was best for her and her family, but it would be hard to say goodbye, she said.
"I don’t know the answer to what will come next but I’m going to take some time out and decide after that.
"It’s always a bit scary when you don’t know what’s next."
She had been a stalwart of the Temuka community over her tenure and said community outreach had been a big focus in her role.
"As a church it’s so important that we reach out to our community.
"It’s been great to partner with organisations, like Plunket for example, because it’s getting harder to do things.
"I think when you partner together you’re better. The community benefits from it."
Over her time in the role she had been involved in the community in various ways.
She also provided school teachers and emergency service staff with gifts at Christmas time as a way to acknowledge their work for the Temuka community.
"So much is taken for granted," she said.
"I think as a church we need to reach outside of our own walls and meet the community where they’re at."
She had very much enjoyed her time in Temuka and would be leaving with many fond memories.
"It’s been really good, meeting lots of new people and forming lots of new relationships, it’s just been fantastic. I’ll always remember those relationships.
"Especially with the likes of the music and movement class and meeting all those children. When they're out and they see me in the supermarket, they stop and say hi or wave.
"It's showing them that this sort of thing breaks down barriers because people have a concept of the church which isn't always accurate."
Meeting people where they were at broke down those barriers, she said.
"A number of people have reached out and said what it's meant to the community in general. Which has really surprised me, it left me feeling very humble."
Her last service will be held during the first week of November.
