THE four-year wait for a new vicar for three Fenland churches will finally be over when the Rev Kevin Fitzgibbon moves to the area in February. The Rev Fitzgibbon will be licensed as priest in charge of St Nicolas Church, Manea, Christchurch Parish Churc

THE four-year wait for a new vicar for three Fenland churches will finally be over when the Rev Kevin Fitzgibbon moves to the area in February.

The Rev Fitzgibbon will be licensed as priest in charge of St Nicolas' Church, Manea, Christchurch Parish Church and St Mary's Church, Welney, by the Bishop of Ely in a service at St Mary's, Welney, on February 5.

"It is time to move on to the next phase of my ministry and I am looking forward to my new challenge," the new vicar said.

The joint benefices have been without a vicar since the retirement of the Rev Sheila Tooke in April 2003.

And Daphne Simons, Christchurch churchwarden, said: "We are really glad the four-year wait for a new vicar is over and we are looking forward to his ministry."

But she added that the wardens had done "a really good job" in keeping church services going.

"We have been very fortunate that we have had very supportive people come in to help," she said.

The Rev Fitzgibbon, 57, will move from Eaton Socon, where he has been the vicar of St Mary's Church for the past eight years.

He will live at Charlemont Drive, Manea, with wife Ann and mother-in-law Pam. He is also a father of two and has one grandson.