Brother George and Brother Leonard are members of the Melanesian Brotherhood — the fastest-growing religious order in the Anglican Church, based in the Solomon Islands — and were due to fly to this country earlier this week.
Preb John Rawlings said the monks would be assisting him in parish duties and would be licensed to do so by the Bishop of Exeter at the service in Tavistock parish church at 9.45am on Sunday October 21.
'We are looking forward greatly to having them here and making them feel at home,' Mr Rawlings said. The monks will be gaining experience of working in a parish in England, but he said parishioners were also looking forward to what they could learn from them.
Mr Rawlings said the monks were 'a little bit nervous' at coming to work in a different culture and way of life, but Brother George had previously been to England, having spent two years at the University of Leeds studying for a Masters degree.
It is hoped the brothers will be in the parish for one year, but as they will be living in the presently-vacant curate's house this will be largely dependant on whether there are any applicants for the vacant curate's position next June.