For the first time in many months, organ and voices rang out across a packed congregation at Chudleigh Parish Church last Wednesday as Rev Alexander Sharp was inaugurated as the new vicar of Chudleigh, Chudleigh Knighton and Trusham parishes.

The service, led by The Right Reverend Robert Atwell, Bishop of Exeter, was a mixture of formal and informal. The new vicar took oaths to the Church of England, Her Majesty the Queen, and the Lord Bishop of Exeter. He was authorised and commissioned in his new role and then welcomed by representative of the parish and wider community.

Alex has moved with his wife Bethan and their children from St Illogan in Cornwall where he was Assistant curate. Of his new role, he said: My family and I are delighted to be joining the churches and communities of Chudleigh, Chudleigh Knighton and Trusham, and we’ve been made to feel very welcome by everyone we’ve met - thank you! 

‘We look forward to getting to know the people of the parishes in the months ahead, and to working with the churches in sharing the good news of Jesus.’