A PRIEST who has spent ten years serving Hatherleigh and the surrounding area says he is saddened at being told to step down. Hatherleigh priest in charge the Rev Alex Welby says his licence expires at the end of this year and Exeter Diocese says it will not be renewed. Mr Welby says he does not know why the Bishop of Exeter the Rt Rev Michael Langrish has made the decision to revoke his licence, but he says he feels ?very sad?. A spokesperson for the Exeter Diocese said: ?The Bishop has been in discussion with Mr Welby about his future ministry since June 2002 and has encouraged him to use his particular gifts in a different setting. ?He has given Mr Welby nine months? notice that the licence will be revoked on December 31, in order to give both Mr Welby and the parishes of Hatherleigh, Meeth, Exbourne and Jacobstowe sufficient time to plan for the future.? Mr Welby said: ?I am afraid it is just one of those things that happen to priests.? Mr Welby said he had been told the fact he was going through a divorce was not the reason for the Bishop?s decision. Mr Welby who has served as a priest for 21 years, said the Bishop?s decision to revoke his licence confirmed in a recent letter had come completely ?out of the blue?. He said he had been ?very happy? serving the Hatherleigh, Meeth, Exbourne and Jacobstowe communities for the past decade and it would be a wrench to leave the post at the end of the year. ?I have been very settled and happy here,? he said. Mr Welby said he appreciated the support given by many local people. ?People have been very kind throughout this time and particularly in the last few months,? he said.
