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ByBrent Dowdall S taff Writer “Do you know the score of the hockey game?" Rev, Leo Hughes was asking everyone who came into Arnprior’s Tim Horton’s last Saturday night if they knew the score of the Montrealâ€" Pittsburgh playoff game. Never mind that he was surround- ed by family and friends having just come from a banquet honored by his congregation after 31 years as their minister. And never mind that the next morning he would deliver his final service at St. Andrew‘s Presbyterian Church before retireâ€" ment â€" he needed to know the score. Sports may be religion to many, but it has always been second â€" a close second, but still second â€" to Rev. Leo Hughes. He arrived in Arnprior June 16, 1967 after {our years preaching in Rosetown, Saskatchewan. Along with wife Margaret, they brought five children â€" Colin, Tom, Murray, Kim, and Robert. Their youngest child Catherine was born the following September. Thirty-one years later. the longest-serving minister this centu- ry at [39-year old St. Andrew‘s retired on Thursday. “There were a lot of tears here Sunday and Saturday night." said Orville Blackburn, the past clerk of session for 20 years and a close friend “We‘re sorry to lose him. \\"e Can't say enough about him." Rev. Hughes, 67, a Montreal native, came to Arnprtor to [ill a vacancy at the church. invited to “preach for the call" by the St Andrew‘s congregation in 1967. He said he hadn't given any thought at the time to remaining in town â€" there is no hierarchy so a minister can move to fill another vacancy A but he was always satisâ€" lied to be in Arnprior, “Arnprior has always been a good place to live, and a good place to raise your children,“ he said. “You can get anything you want. and if you can’t it’s only 35 miles away. They also have six grandchildren. Four children and live grandchile dren are still in the area. The entire family is also very active in the church, and “my greatest support In my ministry has been Margaret," now ma med for 42 years. “It's been a good ministry. it‘s been successful because of support Tgtmrew’s minister retires after 31 years @i. News photo Brent Dowdull Rev. Leo Hughes, with Bible open, enioys one of his last clays in his office at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. and encouragement." Rev. Hughes he had the option to retire at 65, but wanted to introduce lay-pastoral ministry, where congre- gation members assist in the service. He speaks with particular pride of hosting the lOan Presbyterian General Assembly in 1976, an event one year in the planning which brought the community together. “Everyone thought he was clean out of his mind when he came up with that," Blackburn said. “His slo- gan was always ‘1t can be done and it will be done.” The assembly opened the same night as Rev. Hughes was to have received his Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University. He obtained a Doctor of Ministry l‘rorn Trinity Theological Seminary in 1989. The message in his last sermon on t Sunday â€" look after the flock. “Anyone‘s who’s in trouble, he’s ‘ the first one they contact for advice,” Blackburn said. “He‘s a very under- standing and compassionate man. , He can’t say no. He doesn’t know; what no means." i He’s also a marvellous speaker,{ speaking without notes. “Every sermon you get something ; out of it," said Helen Black, his sec- retary, treasurer, organist and Choiri director for 13 years. “And his ‘ prayers are so meaningful.” Black also said he has always ‘ helped out around the church, setâ€" i ting up tables, washing dishes, paint- ing windows. And he is wonderful. with every age group. He has also been the Protestant chaplain at the Arnprior Royal Canadian Legion for years, a Found-1 ing member of the Arnprior Rotary; Club, and twice president of the Arnprior Ministerial Association. Once a prodigious Coke drinker, 4 Rev. Hughes turned from drinking to i collecting all things Coke â€" bottles, cans, bottlecaps, the works â€" and is at “rabid sports fan." , Rev. Hughes and Margaret are heading to Scotland for six months. He summed up the with the words of‘ Calvin e solo, gloria, domini. " “If over the Course of 3] years we have helped make any one life better i and richer then to God be the glory. l Nothing I have done but He has done." l l l t l t l