A FORMER Westhoughton teacher has been appointed as the new vicar of St John the Evangelist at Wingates.

A new team ministry has been formed with the union of Westhoughton and Wingates and the Rev Stephen Beach becomes the first team vicar.

Mr Beach, whose licensing service takes place at St John's on Friday, February 28, has already moved into the vicarage with his wife Caroline and three children, David, 18, Jennifer, 16, and eight-year-old Lydia.

Before joining the new team ministry, which includes the four churches of St John's, St Bartholomew's, St George's and St Thomas's at Chequerbent, Mr Beach served as curate at Christ Church, Harwood.

Originally from Stafford, Mr Beach, aged 38, used to be a German and French teacher and for a short while taught at Westhoughton High School.

He left teaching to do a degree in theology at Manchester University and had considered working overseas as a missionary.

However, he returned to teaching and entered the ministry after completing the Northern Ordination course which he was able to do in the evenings and at weekends while keeping his job. He was ordained in 1993.

While in Harwood, Mr Beach was particularly active in encouraging new people into the church, and will carry on this work at Wingates.

"I will be supporting and helping the people who are in the church at the moment to grow in their faith but I would also like to encourage new people to come along," said Mr Beach.

The family like their new home and, while Jennifer continues as a pupil at Canon Slade studying for her GCSEs, Lydia is now a pupil at Wingates St John's Primary School.

The Bishop of Bolton, Canon Alan Wolstencroft, will officiate at Mr Beach's licensing service, which starts at 7.30pm.

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