Church champion to find new patch

The vicar of St Stephen's Church, Reverend David Frost, used last Sunday's morning service to announce his plans to take up post as team rector for the six churches in Rye.

"In many ways being vicar of St Stephen's is a dream job" said David. "The church is a wonderful mixture of clergy and lay people and I have been loved and supported by so many over the past 16-and-a-half years. It will be hard to leave."

Rvd Frost joined the Down Road church in January 1994, going on to become a well-known figure in local life both ecclesiastical and secular.

He soon finishes a term at the town hall as Town Mayor's chaplain, and has been a governor of King Offa Primary for 13 years.

His work as chair of Churches Together in Bexhill, leading events like the Good Friday Walk of Witness and the Summer Hymn Singing on the sea front, lead to a runner's-up finish in the Resident of the Year category of the 2007 Bexhill Achievers' Awards.

Paul Lendon, Rother District Councillor for St Stephen's Ward, which includes the church, called Revd Frost an "invaluable presence", adding: "He's been instrumental in championing churches together.

"I'll be very sad to see him go. He's been a pillar of the community as far as I'm concerned."

Rvd Frost, who will also give up his post as Rural Dean of Bexhill and Battle when he leaves, holds his last Sunday service at St Stephen's on August 1, and plans to leave Bexhill soon afterwards.

"I just felt that now was the right time to go," he said. "I shall miss this place terribly."

He will be instituted as team rector of Rye by the Bishop of Lewes in St Mary's Church on Tuesday, September 7 at 7.30pm. All are welcome to the service.

Rye has a team of six churches, including the famous St Mary's in the centre of the town that has an important ministry to more than 150,000 tourists who visit the church every year. The Rye area is already well-known to David, as he was a Team Vicar there for four years before moving to Bexhill.

A new vicar and rural dean will be appointed once David has left.