THE Revd Nick Jackson has been appointed as the new vicar of St James, Woodley.

As a result of a recent redrawing of parish boundaries Nick will be responsible for the new Benefice of St James, Southlake, which now also includes Emmanuel Church under its umbrella.Nick is currently assistant curate at All Saints, Branksome Park in Poole and succeeds the Revd Moira Astin who moved to Lincolnshire last year.Nick studied Mathematics at Wadham College, Oxford and worked as a teacher and in ICT before training for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is married to Pam and they have two adult sons, Tom and Will.Jeremy Galpin and Sue Karsten, churchwardens of St James said: “We are delighted to announce Nick’s appointment. “We believe Nick has the gifts, passion and drive to lead us in the next phase of our corporate life at St James. “He and Pam are excited about joining us, welcoming the opportunity to get to know us, to teach, to encourage, to pray, to laugh, cry and to eat with us and lead us forward.

“We very much look forward to welcoming them to Woodley.”