Twyford, Ruscombe and Hurst vicar to leave after 11 years

A vicar who has served the community for 11 years is to leave next month.

Rev Simon Howard, vicar of Twyford and Ruscombe with Hurst, will leave to serve an international Christian community as vicar in North Devon from the end of August, a move he described as a ‘call of God’.

The 56-year-old took up the post in 2005 and said he will miss the people the most.

He said: “There are some really good people. They want to serve their community.

“All communities have issues, but it is not a place of big arguments.

“People here get on with each other.”

He will leave with his wife of 33 years, Bridget, 55, to Lee Abbey, a Christian community based near Lynton in Devon.

Mr Howard said the community and congregation will go forward ‘with a new person’ now.

He added: “I think people need a change here.”