This weekend Fr Barry Anderson is announcing his retirement as parish priest of Christ the King, Langney, and will leave the parish at the end of January.

Although there are still some details to be sorted, Bishop Richard, with the permission of Mgr Keith, has asked me to be Parish Priest of Christ the King. This will obviously have an impact upon the Ordinariate mission here in Eastbourne and hopefully allows for greater development of the mission.

It is a slightly strange situation because although I’ll be ministering my diocesan duties at the Christ the King my Ordinariate duties will still entail, amongst other things, mass on Sunday at 4pm at St Agnes and on Monday night, 7.30pm, at Our Lady of Ransom. What will be new for the Ordinariate is that the 5pm Saturday vigil mass at Christ the King will be an Ordinariate mass as well.

I would like to convey a deep sense of thanksgiving for the support the parish has given me over the last six years in the transition into the Roman Catholic Church and the space to explore and express the gifts of the Ordinariate.

I ask that you continue to hold me and the Eastbourne Ordinariate Mission in your prayers, as I begin this new venture.