A VICAR has reassured parishioners it will be busy as usual after his retirement - despite a proposed major shake-up in the way the churches he covers are run.

Rev Robert Latham, who is currently vicar at St Philip and St James Church, St Bartholomew’s Church, Grimley, and St Martin’s Church, Holt, is set to retire in November after serving the community for more than two decades.

His planned departure has led to a review of how the churches are run in the hopes of “easing the administrative and governance burden” on his successor and lay members of the churches.

Proposals to make St Bartholomew’s Church, Grimley and St Martin’s Church, Holt Chapels of Ease have been put forward.

This will mean the churches will have one parochial church council (PCC) between them with representatives from the different churches.

“Services will continue as they are,” Rev Latham said. “There are no plans to reduce services. It is only an idea I am not saying that it will happen. This has to have the support of the parochial church council (PCC) so there’s no news at the moment.”

The Archdeacon of Worcester Robert Jones said: “The retirement of the current vicar gives an opportunity to look at how the parishes of Hallow, Grimley, Holt and Lower Broadheath work together.

“Following discussions with parishioners, the suggestion is for Grimley and Holt churches to become Chapels of Ease, with representatives from these churches serving on the Parochial Church Council at Hallow.

"It is hoped that this will ease the administrative and governance burden on the next vicar as well as the lay members of all the churches.

"A similar arrangement has worked well in neighbouring parishes and there is no reason for this to impact on the services held in each church. However, we are in the initial stages of the process and, as the parishes know, any plans will be subject to local consultation before being finalised.”