Reverend David Saunders is to be licensed as the new Oversight Minister for our Benefice by Bishop Hugh Nelson on 9th June in Week St Mary Church.

We all look forward to welcoming him and helping him to settle in to the post which was formerly  occupied by Rev David Barnes who retired last year. Sadly Rev Barnes passed away earlier this year and the sadness of this event so soon after he left us has been hard to come to terms with. We hope that Rev Saunders’ arrival will help the parish and the Benefice to move forward once more with fresh hope and energy. Roll on June- it seems such a long time since we started the process of seeking a new Rector but actually we managed to complete the discernment, advertisement and appointment  very quickly as Rev David was interviewed last November. Commitments in his current position of Curate in Oxfordshire and refurbishment of Week St Mary Rectory have meant that he has been unable to  move until the beginning of June 24. However all good things are worth waiting for  and we are excited about the changes that we’ll soon be seeing.

During the transition, we have been looked after by Assistant priest Rev Mark James, Interim Rural Dean Rev Rob Dickenson and our four Local Worship Leaders, Sue Dickenson, Linda Cobbledick, Micheline Smith and Lesley Booker.

Sue and Lesley have also completed their training as Local Lay Leaders and hope to be of assistance to Rev David in this parish at least when he arrives.

Lesley Booker March 24