The new vicar of Goring-by-Sea, the Reverend Andrew Tremlett, will be licensed at a special service in the spring.

The service, conducted by the Right Reverend Lindsay Urwin, Bishop of Horsham, will take place at St Mary's Church, Goring, on Wednesday, May 7, at 7.30pm.

Mr Tremlett has been chaplain to the Bishop of Portsmouth since 1998 and was previously vicar of St Columba's in Fareham, Hampshire.

He is married to Ali and they have three children, Lizzie, 11, Jacob, eight, and Thomas, four.

In a letter to his new parishioners, Mr Tremlett wrote: "Ali and I both come from the West Country and were, for a while, next-door neighbours during our teenage years.

"Much of our family still lives in Plymouth and south Devon. After university and theological training, I was curate in Torquay, before serving the Anglican Church in Rotterdam for three years.

"I also have relations in Belgium and the Netherlands so it was a good opportunity to be in touch with them on a more regular basis as well as living in a multi-cultural environment."

Meanwhile, St Mary's is bidding to boost membership of its choir, just weeks after the choir at Offington Park Methodist Church in South Farm Road announced it was folding.

Member Jack Aplin said: "About 28 years ago I joined the choir of St Mary's, in which I am still privileged to serve.

"This choir has given yeoman service under the guidance of Penelope and Charles Corp.

"Renderings of Handel's Messiah, Stainer's Crucifixion and lovely Christmas carol services are but a few of the works which have been performed.

"At present, with sadly reduced numbers, such works are becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to perform."

He called on parishioners who can sing to join, pointing to the contribution of Brian Newman, who was approaching 40 years with the choir.

Mr Aplin said: "Please come and join us and ensure that, when our new vicar comes to us next May, he will be greeted with a choir worthy of St Mary's."

St Mary's sister church, St Laurence's, is raising funds towards the reconstruction of its organ.

More than half the £3,000 needed has been raised and the remainder will probably have to come from reserves.