Waiting is over as canon is installed at church

For the past 18 months the parishioners of a Bath church have been without a priest.

But now one has come out of retirement to take over the mantle at Holy Trinity Church in Queen Square.

Canon Michael Hart, aged 69, was installed as the new priest in a service this week which was attended by a number of bishops from across the West.

The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Price, led the ceremony, which also included the Archdeacon of Bath, the Venerable Andy Piggott, the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt Rev Andrew Burnham, and retired bishop David Silk from Devon.

Churchwarden Fred Bovett said it was unusual for so many high-profile figures to attend an installation.

He said: "It is rather unusual but we felt honoured to have all these bishops coming to our church.

"I think it is because they feel Holy Trinity is quite an important church in Bath, although it is quite small."

Father Graham Oakes retired from his post at Holy Trinity in 2007 and since then interviews have been taking place to try to find the right candidate.

Mr Bovett said the parishioners were pleased to finally have a new priest. "It is a relief for the parishioners, but also a relief for the churchwardens who have had to carry the responsibility during the past year-and-a-half," he said. "But these things take time."

Father Hart will be working at the church on a part-time basis, because of his retirement, but will be living full-time at Holloway in Bath.

He had previously worked in the Heavitree parish in Exeter for 16 years, which is one of the biggest in that city.

Mr Bovett said: "He is a very approachable, very nice man and we are very lucky to have him.

"He should do well in the city because Bath needs good priests."