By Hayley Robinson

Hopes of appointing a new vicar to oversee the running of two Sittingbourne churches have been dashed.

The Rev Anita Colpus was appointed to St Mary’s and St Michael’s as associated minister to lead services and take care of the benefice’s pastoral needs after the Rev Nick Finlay left last December to move closer to his parents in Wales.

Interviews for a new vicar were expected to take place at the end of March but the appointment has been put on hold after the Diocese of Canterbury decided to look at the wider picture of ministry in the Sittingbourne area.

David Cummings, a spokesman for St Michael’s Church, said: "Every church would like its own vicar but it’s a thing of the past. We just don’t know how it will pan out for us.

"Our main concern is the Rev Anita Colpus who has been advised to look elsewhere which means we’re going to lose her and her husband Richard – our children and families minister.

"It’s very difficult for them especially when Anita had her heart set on staying in Sittingbourne – now that rug has been swept out from underneath her. We don’t know how long it will take (to review everything) but we are all pulling together."

Father John Lewis, Area Dean of Sittingbourne, said it was normal for there to be an interval between one church leader leaving and another taking over.

It gave time for reflection and consultation to help mould a sustainable and suitable future ministry, he said.

He added: "During this interregnum, the wider picture of ministry in the Sittingbourne area will need to be considered in partnership with other local churches, the Deanery and the Diocese of Canterbury."

He said the ministry at St Mary’s and St Michael’s will continue through readers, lay ministers, local clergy and through each member of the church encouraging and supporting each other.

Meanwhile a couple are hoping to bring God closer to people living in and around Iwade.

Captain Stephen Plumb has been appointed the Bishop’s Missioner for north Sittingbourne - a new post for the Church of England in the Deanery area of Sittingbourne.

His role will include working with people and developing a new form of church that helps people connect with God.

Capt Plumb, who has previously worked for the evangelical organisation the Church Army in North London, Sheffield, and most recently Northern Ireland, plans to move with his wife Dawn to one of the new housing developments around Iwade next month.

Father John Lewis said: “New housing developments in Sittingbourne may include shops and pubs, but they do not recognise the need for any sort of spiritual centre.

"This means that families, who move onto the developments, do not have a worshipping community to support them as they settle into their new homes. We believe that Stephen and Dawn will be able to make the love of God a living reality for the people of the area so that the community can develop a spiritual life of its own.”

Capt Plumb said he was excited about his new post and added: “Dawn and I look forward to setting up home and making new friends.”

He will be licensed at a ceremony at Holy Trinity Church, Milton Regis, on Thursday, March 11, at 7.30pm. All welcome.