THE new vicar of St John's Parish Church, in Bromsgrove, takes up his post tomorrow.

The Rev Nigel Marns will be inducted by the Bishop of Worcester before an anticipated congregation of more than 400.

He replaces Canon John Davies who retired last May.

Mr Marns, aged 37, with his wife, Penny, and children Rosie, aged seven, and Robert, five, come to Bromsgrove from West Bromwich where he was priest-in-charge of the Good Shepherd with St John Church.

Last night's institution and induction service was due to be conducted by the Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, and the Archdeacon of Dudley, the Ven John Gathercole.

The couple, who moved into the vicarage, in Kidderminster Road, shortly after Christmas, were already familiar with Bromsgrove.

Mr Marns explained that they used to visit the town when they lived in Rubery while he trained for the ministry at Queen's College, in Birmingham.

He said his first task would be to get to know everyone connected with St John's and St Andrew's Church, in Charford, and to make himself known to the wider community.

He will also spend some time working on adapting some of the church services to the new Book of Common Worship.

Churches elsewhere have the work in hand, but Bromsgrove has been given 12 months' grace because of the change-over.

Mr Marns lists gardening, country walking, the cinema and theatre among his hobbies and interests.