MORE THAN 200 people turned out to see the new vicar for Bromsgrove’s St John’s and St Andrew’s Churches officially licensed.
The special service to install Rev Ray Khan as the Team Vicar in the Bromsgrove Team Ministry was conducted on Thursday (April 23) by the Rt Rev Bishop of Worcester Dr John Inge.
During the ceremony at St John’s, Rev Khan was officially presented to the bishop who spoke highly of him.
Dr Inge also gave a sermon about the importance of friendship and its potential to make the world a better place.
Rev Khan made a renewal of his commitment to ministry and declarations and swore allegiance to HM The Queen.
The St John’s Church Choir sang ‘For the Beauty of the Earth’ by John Rutter and Rev Khan also received several welcomes from community representatives.
Among them were Jo Slade, on behalf of the Friends of St John’s Church, Alistair Moseley, who was representing the Orchestra of St John and Bromsgrove Festival, and Town Crier Kevin Ward. He represented the Bromsgrove Court Leet and welcomed the new vicar ‘on behalf of all the residents of the manor’.
The church wardens, members of the Sunday School and Rev Christine Holzapfel also gave Rev Khan official welcomes.
At the end of the service, Rev Khan rang the church bells to signal his arrival and – as a symbolic gesture – opened the doors of the church.
Afterwards he said: “It was a lovely welcome and I’m looking forward to being in Bromsgrove and enjoying all the fun that Bromsgrove has to offer.”
Rev Khan arrives in Bromsgrove from Tamworth, where he was a curate.
“I’m used to having a civic church and I want to work with the civic bodies, organisations and businesses.”
He said the size of the town, the civic status of the church, the work St Andrew’s Church had done on the Charford estate and being part of the team here were what attracted him to his new Bromsgrove role.
The Bishop of Worcester said: “It was wonderful that there was a full church to welcome Ray to Bromsgrove.
“We pray for God’s blessings upon him.”
Following the service, there were refreshments in the church and Rev Khan got to cut a cake made especially for the occasion by church member Jo Hackett.
More than 200 people came out to see the licensing of Rev Khan.
Rev Khan cut the cake made especially for the occasion.
The cake made by church member Jo Hackett.
The church was packed.
