Tributes to pioneer church worker with love for children
 
Tributes have been paid this week to a ‘Pioneer Missioner’ for Bestwood Park with Rise Park Church, who died on Wednesday, 11th August 2010, after a life-time dedicated to helping people discover faith.
 
Mrs Stella Tyers (55) who leaves a husband David, spent many years working in different communities across Nottingham. She qualified as a dietitian in Leeds and later trained as a primary school teacher. Stella originally worked within the NHS but later as a teacher at Seely Infant School (Sherwood), Robin Hood Infant School (Bestwood Park), Southwark Primary School (Basford) and in Nottingham Prison.
 
The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, said: “Stella Tyers was an outstanding person whose life spoke of the love of Jesus to all whom she met. Her ministry in Bestwood was excellent. Our love and prayers are with David in his loss.”
 
Both Stella and David were involved in a number of church projects over the years. Stella was a mentor on a lay discipleship programme run by the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, a mentor for the Education for Ministry Programme in the UK and they were also both active members of St Andrew’s Church in Nottingham. It was while they were there that Stella became involved in the Jericho Road Project, reaching out to women on the streets. As a dietitian she was concerned about their diet too, and used to take fresh fruit to hand out to them during the evening, along with other essentials.
 
David and Stella also spent several years working in Africa in both Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa and in Swaziland. They worked in three different hospitals, with people infected and affected by HIV, with children orphaned by AIDS as well as being involved in a number of other community development projects. They have maintained strong links with the Pasture Valley Children's home in Swaziland where Stella has a children's house named in her honour. Stella and David were founders of a small charity, Vula Amehlo Trust, which continues to support projects in Southern Africa including Pasture Valley.
 
Through teaching and children’s work at churches, Stella’s passion for sharing faith with children shone out. In her most recent post as Pioneer Missioner in Bestwood Park & Rise Park, she helped raise some £10,000 to set up a special youth and children’s facility at the church. Associate Priest, the Revd Canon Nigel Rooms, who worked alongside Stella most recently, said: “She had an incredible heart for people and for knowing about God and that just shone out of her. Her role included working with children and young people and families and particularly networking in the schools to help people re-connect with the church. She did some fantastic creative work with the children and was an inspiration to us all.”
 
Stella became ill in January 2009 but continued to be actively involved in the parish until very recently.
 
Her funeral has been arranged for Tuesday, 24th August at 2pm at St Mary’s Church, Bulwell, when former colleague, the Revd Haydon Wilcox will be the preacher. 

 
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