THE Catholic community in Ledbury has a new parish priest in the shape of Father Richard Simons, of the Benedictine community of Belmont Abbey in Hereford.

Father Richard, aged 36, has taken over from Father Pat Coyne, who was the priest at the Catholic Church of the Most Holy Trinity, in New Street, for seven years.

Father Pat has moved to St Mary's Church in Monmouth, one of the oldest-established churches in the Archdiocese of Cardiff.

Meanwhile, Father Richard said: "At Belmont Abbey I worked in the traditional Benedictine role of hospitality, the idea of welcoming guests to the monastery, so it's not a strange thing for me to be working as a parish priest.

"I have also worked on the Belmont parish, looking after a few rural churches. Now I'm here for as long as the Archbishop of Cardiff wills it.

"Before Christmas, when my abbot spoke to me about the appointment, I was delighted really, because Ledbury is a wonderful town. So far, the support of the parish community has been overwhelming."

Father Richard, originally from South Wales, first celebrated mass at the New Street church on January 7, when his appointment officially commenced.

He said: "I would hope to continue the good work that's been done in the parish. This is a lovely church. It is kept so beautiful and we have the splendid hall that is used by so many groups in the community.

"I want to continue the good relations with the other churches in Ledbury, to build on that Christian unity and get to know the people of Ledbury."