by Hayley Robinson

After three years, one month and three weeks, the parish of St Mary and St Michael finally has a new vicar.

The Rev James Pettit was licensed during a service held at St Michael’s Church in Sittingbourne High Street last week.

His appointment makes him the first team vicar of the new Sittingbourne and Bobbing team ministry which was set up last year under the leadership of team rector the Rev Mike Resch.

The Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, led the service and Mr Pettit was installed by the Archdeacon of Maidstone, the Venerable Stephen Taylor.

More than 150 people attended, including family, friends, representatives of local organisations and parishioners from town churches and James’s previous placements in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and St Mary of Charity, Faversham.

Among those greeting James to his new post were the Mayor of Swale, Cllr Pat Sandle, head teacher of South Avenue Infant School, Lesley Murray, district police commander Chief Insp Tony Henley and John Vaughn, on behalf of Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital.

Mr Pettit’s wife Alice, who is also a priest, was licensed to the same team ministry at Holy Trinity Church, Dover Street, on Friday.

St Michael’s former vicar the Rev Nick Finlay left in 2009 to move closer to his parents in Wales.

Interviews for a new vicar were due to take place the following March but the appointment was put on hold after the Diocese of Canterbury decided to look at the wider picture of ministry in Sittingbourne.