ST ELPHIN’S Church will welcome its new rector The Rev Paul Wilson when he is inducted on Sunday.

A special service will take place at the church from 3pm where Mr Wilson will be inducted as Rector of Warrington followed by a licensing service by the Rt Rev Richard Blackburn, the Bishop of Warrington at 7.30pm.

Mr Wilson was born in Yorkshire in 1964 and worked for Asda as a manager and then ran his own driving school before taking a place at Theological College in Durham in 1996.

Paul was ordained Deacon in 1998 in Sheffield Cathedral, and Priest in 1999, serving his Curacy in Rotherham in a team with one suburban and three rural parishes.

He was appointed Vicar of Hatfield, St Lawrence, in 2001, as well as CME Officer for Lay Development in the Doncaster Archdeaconry from 2004 to 2007, a training incumbent for a curate from 2005 to 2008, area Dean from 2011 and Honorary Canon of Sheffield Cathedral from 2012.

Mr Wilson will be moving to the town with his wife Karen and their youngest of four children Matthew.

He said: “We are looking forward to moving to Warrington and sharing God’s love amongst you all here, even though it will be really difficult for us to leave Hatfield where we have been so blessed with many good and dear friends.”

Bishop Richard added: “Sunday marks an important beginning in the life of St Elphin’s. Paul brings a great deal of experience from his time in Sheffield and will offer a strong ministry for the local community. I am delighted to be able to license him as Rector of St Elphin’s and pray for his ministry in this town.”