A new vicar is coming

The church has been without a Vicar since the Rev David King moved with his family to take on a new parish challenge in Eastbourne.

A replacement has been appointed but not yet named publicly.

Now churchwardens Jan Sparkes and Mick Gregory are appealing for volunteers to prepare the Vicarage for the new incumbent and their family.

Writing in the parish magazine, they say: "It is now the third month of the interregnum and we have heard the good news that a new incumbent for St Michael's has been appointed.

"Over the next few months we ask that you pray for him and his family at this time of uncertainty. The uncertainty being, not what they are leaving, but what they are coming to.

"It must be a worry, new faces, new places, different ideas.

"It is an exciting time, a time of change. We at St Michael's need to welcome the family into the church as only we know how.

"There is work to be done and we need a lot of hands to get it done before they arrive.

"The Diocese has to carry out work inside the Vicarage. Once that is done it will be all hands to the pumps to get the house ready."