HELPING to build links between the church and community has been one of the highlights in the varied work of the Rev Russell Chamberlain, who is moving on to pastures new later this year after 11 years in Okehampton.

He started out as vicar of Okehampton and Inwardleigh and four years later was given overall charge of the newly formed Okehampton Team Ministry taking in the parishes of Bridestowe and Sourton, Bratton Clovelly, Germansweek and Northlew. Now he has accepted an invitation by the Bishop and Lord Devonshire to be the next vicar of Wolborough and Ogwell in Newton Abbot.

Mr Chamberlain will take up his new post in October but admits leaving the town where he has spent lots of happy years will be a wrench.

'My wife Caroline and I have been extremely happy and we have many memories,' he said. 'Our three children, who were small when we came here but have now all flown the nest, also share those feelings — leaving will not be easy.'

There have been many highlights in his work, but Mr Chamberlain picks out the relationship between different churches and denominations, which has come on in 'leaps and bounds' in the last ten years, and the work in reaching out to the wider community as particular achievements.

'The ways in which the churches have grown together is wonderful and now we have Christians Together in Okehampton,' he said.

During the his time in Okehampton, the ministry team have raised and spent £150,000 on building projects, notably at Bratton Clovelly church and All Saints Parish Church in Okehampton.

Mr Chamberlain has praised the generosity of local people, who no matter what their circumstance always manage to give to a worthy cause.

'I wasn't asked to go to Okehampton — I applied for the job and although it is a very pretty part of the country it is the people who make it,' he said.

'It has been a joy and privilege to work with this community.'

The vicar has been a governor of Okehampton Primary School and Okehampton College and had links with the Rotary Club and Okehampton Hospital League of Friends.

He said until October it would be very much 'business as usual'.

'There will be time for thank yous and farewells later on but there is no doubt we will be sad to go. However, life moves on and we must as well.'