A POPULAR vicar will bid farewell to Droitwich Spa when he leaves for pastures new.

The Rev Andrew White, vicar of St Nicholas' Church, has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Hartlebury and Chaplain to the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby. The 39-year-old has served in Droitwich for more than six years and is also the town's Rural Dean.

He said: "I am excited by the challenges ahead. I am going to be sad to leave Droitwich after six-and-a-half years as I have enjoyed working with a wide variety of people and my clergy colleagues in the team. I have also enjoyed being Rural Dean and I am sorry to step down from that responsibility in the wider area.

"On the interview day for the post I was delighted to meet so many warm and friendly people from the parish and I look forward to working with them in relating the church to the community."

Mr White is originally from London. He has a degree in fine art from Goldsmiths College, London, and trained for ordination at Salisbury and Wells Theological College. He served as curator in Croydon and South Wimbledon before moving to Droitwich.

He later added: "Having worked in suburban London and a market town I am also looking forward to living in a village."

In his role he will succeed the Rev Capt Peter Worrall and will move to Hartlebury in the New Year. As well as village vicar he will also be in charge of administration for the Bishop of Worcester.

The Rt Rev Dr Selby added: "I am delighted that Andrew White, a person well known in the diocese already as a Rural Dean, is going to be working with me."