Episcopal Bishop holds last mass

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A heartfelt goodbye Sunday as the St. Peter's Episcopal Church congregation in Springfield held its last high mass with their Bishop Gordon Scruton.

The Episcopal Bishop plans to retire at the end of this year after 16 years as spiritual leader of the Western Massachusetts Diocese made up of 65 churches.

Most of the members of this Springfield church are from the Caribbean. Longtime member Vera O'Connor told 22News, she hopes the bishop understands why so few worshippers attended this service.

“As a matter of fact, quite a few people are over in the Caribbean at this time of year. They go for the winter and a lot of our members are not here not knowing the winter would not be that bad,” said Vera O’Connor.

The right Reverend Gordon Scruton has been bishop of the Western Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese for the past sixteen years.