A special service has been held at Highbridge’s St John’s Church to mark the formal licensing of the parish’s new vicar.
More than 100 people attended the service this week, including Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Mayor Cllr Mike Facey.
The ‘Celebration for a New Ministry’ service was led by The Right Reverend Fiona Gibson, Bishop of Taunton, and The Venerable Jonathan Lloyd, Acting Archdeacon of Wells.
Among those present were a large group of Rev Luke Maguire’s family, friends, congregation and clergy from his sending parish in Stretford, Manchester, together with around a dozen local clergy from surrounding churches.
Rev Maguire arrives in Highbridge with his wife Laura and their two children after serving as rector in Stretford since 2015.
He said: “My family and I love living here and have already met some wonderful people. I’m really looking forward to getting to know St John’s and our wider community and seeing how we can work together to bless our town.”
“Coming from Manchester, I never expected to move to somewhere like Somerset, but God’s got a plan and I’m excited to see what he’ll do here over the coming years.”
Brought up in the East Midlands, Sheffield and Greater Manchester, Rev Maguire studied German at the University of Warwick before preparing for ministry at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield. He served as curate first at Rochdale Parish Church and then in Salford, before becoming Rector of All Saints, Stretford.
He added: “As a family we love being active and exploring the countryside, and I enjoy cycling, lifting weights and using my rowing machine. I love to see people grow and fulfil their potential and am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us here at St John’s and how we might grow together in him.”
