Ambassador Ammon awarding the Medal of the Order of the Merit to Mrs Ursula Paish
I am delighted to welcome you, Mrs Paish, your family, friends and fellow-members of the Christuskirche London here on this very special occasion.
We have gathered today to pay tribute to your outstanding voluntary work and to celebrate the bestowal upon you of the Medal of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
You are receiving this high honour in recognition of your devoted service to the German Protestant Christuskirche in London for over five decades.
Ever since your arrival in England in the early 1960s, you have sought every opportunity to serve your neighbour in the true Christian tradition.
For over 50 years you have supported the Christuskirche as verger, helping to ensure the smooth running of church services and church events.
You are also an important point of contact within the parish, particularly for elderly members who would often not be able to participate in parish life without your support.
You have also been a member of the congregation council for over 30 years.
Voluntary commitments like yours, Mrs Paish, are especially important to congregations abroad.
You, Mrs Paish, provide continuity both for the pastors and parishioners.
It is certainly no exaggeration to say that without your support the Christuskirche could not play such an important and valuable part in the life of its community.
In recent years you have also represented the Christuskirche within the association of “Churches Together in Westminster”.
In Barnes – where you live – you are also involved in the local Church of England parish of St. Mary, where you not only provide a helping hand at the church itself, but also engage in many events with theological and social themes.
Besides your outstanding voluntary parish work you are also a long-standing and active member of the British German Association and the German YMCA in London.
Mrs. Paish, you are truly a bridgebuilder for German-British understanding and friendship!
I would like to applaud your tireless voluntary engagement and to thank you for the outstanding services you have rendered to the German Community in London.
Mrs. Paish, it is my great pleasure and honour to present to you the Medal of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.