Induction Service for New Minister at Beulah Baptist church

Over two hundred people attended the service, including visitors who had travelled from Rev Holliday's former churches at Ferndown Baptist Church, Hampshire, and Heathervale Baptist Church, Surrey.

Prior to the service, church members and visitors were treated to a sumptuous afternoon tea, organised and prepared by Beulah church members with Gillian Peacham at the helm.

Following a rousing time of worship, Church Secretary Graham Nurse told the congregation of how Beulah church was first introduced to Rev Holliday saying it has "taken a year of patiently waiting for this day."

Ferndown resident Elliot Biggs commended Rev Holliday for the encouraging work which he had done during the time he'd spent at his previous church in Ferndown, and of his keen approach to the needs of families, and said he would be greatly missed.

The service was lead by associate pastor Reverend Ed Jones, and the Regional Minister Reverend Stuart Davidson.

Graham Holliday was invited to recite his commitments to Christ Jesus and the Beulah community. The congregation in turn joined him in their commitment to the Christian Gospel and supporting the church in this area.

Greetings and welcome were received from Reverend David Frost, vicar of St Stephens and Rural Dean, on behalf of all the churches in Bexhill, and from Cllr Mrs Bridget George, Mayor of Bexhill, who was accompanied by Cllr Mrs Joy Hughes.

An inspiring talk was given by Reverend Dr Steve Brady, who is the Principal of the Moorlands Bible College, where Graham Holliday was a visiting tutor.

Rev Holliday expressed his thanks to everyone who had worked so hard in the arrangements of this special induction day, and both he and his wife Christine thanked everyone who had redecorated his manse from top to bottom before they arrived, and for receiving so many flowers that he could now "open a florist shop".

One of Rev Holliday's first duties will be to participate in the Bexhill Carnival where the children's holiday club will have a float called Wildwestville. Graham has promised to dress as the original Doc Holliday.