THE announcement of the appointment of a new parish priest for Tavistock and Gulworthy has been greeted with delight by parishioners. The announcement was made at the two churches last Sunday, and it is expected the Bishop of Exeter will license the new vicar, the Rev Michael Brierley, at St Eustachius? Church in January. Mr Brierley, 33, is currently serving as domestic chaplain and research assistant to the Bishop of Oxford, a post he has held since 2001. Born and brought up in South London, he studied history then worked as an auxiliary nurse at St Christopher?s Hospice, South London. He trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford, and served six rural parishes in North Dorset. The Rev Joanna Abecassis, the curate and current parish priest, said they were ?looking forward to having him, with his many gifts, but principally as himself, as Michael, our priest?. Mr Brierley enjoys walking and cricket and is married to Joss, an accountant. They have a teenage son, Ben. Mr Brierley said: ?I am very excited about serving the people of Tavistock and Gulworthy, and, while I will miss people in the diocese of Oxford, I am looking forward immensely to coming to the two parishes and working with colleagues there.?
