A new Team Rector will be joining the Golden Cap Team in West Dorset.

Rev’d Chris Martin will be taking up the new role of Team Rector of the 12 parishes, including Lyme Regis.

There will be a special licensing service at St Andrew’s Church in Charmouth on Monday, February 24 at 7pm.

The service will be led by The Bishop of Sherborne, The Rt Rev’d Karen Gorham.

Rev’d Martin is moving from the Churches4All Community in east Devon where he has been vicar of four rural parishes since 2012.

He said: “My wife Tina and I, together with our Labrador puppy (‘Welly’), are very much looking forward to taking up residence in this beautiful part of the world.

“We do have a strong sense that this is the right place for us to be for this next chapter of our lives and we look forward to finding out exactly why.”

Before being ordained in 2009, Rev’d Martin worked as a chartered accountant for six years and then spent another nine years in financial training. He also admitted to being a passionate Welshman and, as a result, says that a love of rugby union, singing and real ale appear to flow in his bloodstream.

He added: “I won’t be coming with ‘solutions’. I’ve no real idea what ‘church’ will look like in 20 years’ time or how we will get there. But change is obviously necessary and, as any good pilgrim knows, the journey is more important than the destination. I’m glad to be walking that journey and look forward to walking it with you too.”

Mr and Mrs Martin, together with ‘Welly’, will also be living in Charmouth. They have three daughters, all now in their twenties, who mostly live away.

The post has been vacant for more than a year and the service, which begins at 7pm, will be attended by church leaders from across the Salisbury Diocese together with representatives of local councils, schools and many other organisations. All are welcome to attend.

For more information visit goldencapteamofchurches.org.uk