A FORMER Anglican vicar starts full-time duties this week as the new priest-in-charge of Tavistock and Callington Roman Catholic churches.
Father John Greatbatch became a Roman Catholic priest two weeks ago under the terms of an ordinariate set up by the Pope for disaffected Church of England clergy.
After attending mass services at the weekend at both Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Tavistock and Our Lady of Victories in Callington, Father Greatbatch described his new congregations as 'superb and wonderful people' and he was looking forward to getting on with the job.
The Wolverhampton-born priest had been an Anglican vicar for almost 30 years, most recently at St Paul's Church in Charlestown, St Austell.
Father Greatbatch said the move to Catholicism was something he had thought about for many years. He is now one of approximately 60 former Anglican priests and five bishops who joined the ordinariate.
He said he was opposed to woman priests and bishops but that was 'just the tip of the iceberg'.
'The real problem is who has the authority in the Church of England and the growth in power of the General Synod. It has become a party political force in the Church of England and I could no longer continue the path the church was taking.
'Instead of having to stand up and fight my corner I have come into a church where everybody believes the same thing and there is no battling and fighting.'
Father Greatbatch said the task ahead was quite daunting and a steep learning curve: 'The Church of England and Roman Catholic Church are quite different in the way they get things done but I am pleased to be here and pleased to be in the Roman Catholic Church.'