THE NEW rector of Okehampton Stephen Cook has wasted no time in pioneering some new initiatives for young families.

The Rev Cook is committed to getting more children and young people into the church and he starts with a once a month service in St James Chapel on September 29, which promises to be 'short, lively, fun and full of action.'

The Early Bird services, aimed at families but open to everyone, will be held on the last Sunday of each month at 9.30am and there will be songs, stories, drama and simple prayer.

The rector said many families had lots of commitments on Sundays and found the traditional 11am service too late.

'They are also concerned about their children making a lot of noise or misbehaving in church,' he said.

'The Early Bird services will be very relaxed so it doesn't matter if your baby cries, your toddler wanders or your five-year-old asks difficult questions, that's what it is for.'

The ancient St James Chapel, situated in Okehampton Town Centre, is currently only used for a communion service once a week on a Thursday yet it is open every day for visiting and is very popular.

Mr Cook, who has two young sons, said the aim was to use the little chapel a lot more and he believed the idea would go down well amongst local people.

Children of primary school age are also being invited to activities in the church tower, at the same time as the normal 11am Sunday service at All Saints Parish Church except the first and last of each month.

JAM (the meaning behind the name will be revealed at the first session on October 13) is part of the church and children will learn about the Christian faith.

Again, the meetings promise to be fun and exciting.

The church has recently begun a tuck shop with profits all going to charity.

Mr Cook, who attracted as many as 100 children to his family services in his previous parish of Hanham in Gloucestershire, has lots of other ideas in the pipeline.

He said he had been made to feel very welcome in Okehampton and said there was a real buzz about the church and a desire to see things move forward.