A SIXTY-four-year-old vicar from Malvern has won a bursary to enable him to take a three-month sabbatical to learn about the use of modern technology in the church.

Rev Peter Furber from Christ Church, Barnards Green, applied for the bursary in September and collected it from the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group at a ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral last week.

Mr Furber, who has been at Christ Church for nearly 10 years, already uses a computer for his church work.

"I have a computer and I run a couple of websites. I use the computer for a lot of administration and for storing sermons but there are much wider applications. Some churches use Powerpoint presentations for all their services and you can get Podcasts of services.

"I am not sure how modern I am going to be after studying modern technology - you can overdo things and misuse them," he said.

He said the sabbatical - which he will take in June, July and August - will also provide an opportunity to recharge his batteries as he will go on retreat and take a holiday during that time too.