THE Rector of Okehampton Rev Stephen Cook celebrates 25 years since being ordained as a priest on June 26.

Stephen was ordained in Hereford and then worked in Keynsham and Bristol before moving to Okehampton in 2002. He is also team rector of the Northmoor Team, which includes eight local parishes, rural dean for Okehampton Deanery and assistant director of Ordinands for Exeter Diocese.

His wife Fiona is a nurse at the Okehampton Medical Centre and a lecturer for Plymouth University. They have two sons together, Ben and Sam.

Stephen said: 'It has been a great privilege to be a clergyman through a period of huge change in the Church of England.

'Some of the things we took for granted when I was ordained can no longer be relied upon but new opportunities have taken their place.

'There is still tremendous energy and life in the church and we are still here, constantly trying to present old truths in new ways.

'My time here in Okehampton has been one of the happiest and most fruitful periods of my ministry.'

There will be a parish lunch on June 26 following the normal 11am service at All Saints Okehampton.

The church celebrates the 750th anniversary of its official consecration on July 31, and a series of events will take place throughout July to celebrate the historic occasion.