A priest who swapped Australia for Wisbech has moved back to his sunshine homeland roots after more than six years preaching at a 12th century church in town.
Father Paul West and his family moved to the Fens in 2010.
Last week he gave his last mass in an emotional service at St Peter and St Paul’s Church.
His move has prompted an outpouring of support and gratitude from people on the pages of Facebook who said he had become a much loved and inspirational man in the community.
Councillor Steve Tierney said: “I was very sorry to hear that Wisbech is losing Father Paul, the priest at St Peters Church.
“Father Paul is going back to Australia where he has an exciting opportunity in a new role within the church.
“The town will be poorer without him and the people in the place he is moving to will be very lucky indeed.
“In his years here, Father Paul has been a positive force and an inspiration in the town, which I think people who have encountered him would agree with whether they are Christians or not.
“I’m sure we all wish him nothing but the best, when he moves on.”
Father Paul trained at Westcott House, a Church of England theological college in Cambridge, before being ordained as a priest back in his homeland in 2007.
He previously graduated in Australia with distinction in an honours degree in Fine Arts and afterwards worked on arts projects in the aboriginal communities of Toomelah and Boggabilla.
He is married to Sally and they have two children Jessica and Dylan.
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