CHURCHES in the villages of West Dartmoor will be welcoming a new face this weekend when the Rev Andy Barton joins them as the new curate, or trainee minister.

Mr Barton is one of 18 new church ministers being ordained in Devon on September 16 by the Lord Bishop of Exeter at Exeter Cathedral.

What follows will be four years of 'on the job training' for church ministry. The minister will be working alongside the Rev Preb Nick Shutt, the team rector of West Dartmoor Mission Community.

His training will involve him in the full breadth of church life from working with children in the local schools to visiting the elderly and sick.

Mr Barton is also looking forward to developing his knowledge and skills in baptism services, weddings and funerals.

He has moved to West Dartmoor with his wife Sioned, and children Tom and Hannah after two years at theological college in Cambridge. Having previously lived in Bovey Tracey, they are delighted to move back to Devon.

The new curate said: 'I am excited about this new start and grateful for the huge amount of support I have already received.

'Faith in God is an adventure which brings challenge and joy. My hope is to travel with the people of West Dartmoor on that adventure.'

He continued: 'Life is full of ups and downs which can prompt us to re-evaluate what is really important in life.

'The church is a community of people who are on that journey, asking big questions and seeking the answers together. Unlike Lord Sugar of BBC's "The Apprentice", whose mantra is "You're fired", I believe God's message is "You're loved".'

Mr Barton is passionate about people achieving their potential, a thread which runs through his time working in business, the Army and the charity sector.

He hopes to combine this with his love for the outdoors and for hospitality during his time, serving the people of Horrabridge, Meavy, Princetown, Sampford Spiney, Sheepstor, Walkhampton and Yelverton.