Great Yarmouth set to welcome new reverend to replace vacant Minster post
Rev Simon Ward is getting ready to start his new role at Great Yarmouth Minster. Picture: Simon Finlay - Credit: Archant Norfolk
A special service will be held to institute a new church leader at Great Yarmouth Minster.
Great Yarmouth Minster. Picture: James Bass - Credit: Eastern Daily Press � 2015
Interviews were held earlier in the year to find a replacement for canon Chris Terry following his departure last September.
Rev Simon Ward, 45, was chosen to fill the vacant role of team rector and will be instituted by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Winton Bishop of Thetford next Tuesday.
MORE: Fond farewell evensong for Canon TerryIn a message to parishioners, he said: 'Life deals us many changes along the way.
'As I prepare to move to Great Yarmouth I am aware that it takes me back to a town I am familiar with having been born at the old Northgate Hospital and raised for the first 11 years of my life in Belton.'
He added: 'Amid these changes there is much to look forward to and be excited about with all of the opportunities change brings.
'I immensely look forward to being with you all and beginning ministry in Great Yarmouth where there are so many good things already going on in the life of the church and the town.
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'I look forward to being a part of these.'
Rev Simon is an experienced priest in the Diocese of Norwich, and in his most recent role he was the priest in charge of the parish of Earlham, with three churches under his care.
He is married to Georgette, who works at the University of East Anglia, and they have two sons of school age, two cats, a tortoise and an aquarium of fish move into the rectory.
Rev Simon, a former secondary school teacher, studied Theology at Durham University before going on to Oxford for his teacher training.
He trained for ordination at Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire and served his curacy in the Diocese of Guildford before moving to the Sole Bay Team in Southwold, Suffolk to be their team vicar.
When not working, he said he enjoys playing rugby, cycling and gardening.
As part of his new role Rev Simon will also become an honorary canon at Norwich Cathedral.
Parishioners are invited to the service next Tuesday at 7pm at Great Yarmouth Minster.
They will be able to witness the institution by the Bishop of Thetford and then the induction, by the Archdeacon of Norwich, of Rev Simon Ward as team rector of the team ministry will be held.
Refreshments will be available after the service.
