WEST Howe parishioners rang in the first day of January by greeting their new pastor to the fold.

The Rev Brian Wiggins joins Cornerstone Church from the Devonshire Avenue Baptist Church in Southsea.

The former teacher has been living in the area since early December and said he was already enjoying Bournemouth life.

“It has been a bit soggy so far,” he said.

“But there’s a great community feel here, and everyone has been extremely friendly towards us.”

Brian, who used to teach engineering at Havant College in Hampshire, may be best known for his work with the church but he has also revealed a hidden talent he hopes to share with locals.

“I’ve actually written and directed musical productions and outreach events that have been performed in theatres, churches and pubs,” he said.

“In one of my former churches, we started out with no musicians at all, but that soon changed. My main instrument is the guitar, and I also play the keyboards.”

And that’s not the only way Brian hopes to unite those in the local community.

“There are already several good links that have been established with different churches, and I’d like to build on those during my time here,” he said.

“We’re planning to meet with those from the local Catholic and C of E churches.”

After training at Spurgeon’s College in London, Brian moved to Southsea in 2009 to become a pastor.

During his time there, he reached out to the community and took his message into local schools, something he is keen to continue doing in the Kinson and Bear Cross area of the town.

He said: “As soon as my wife Vanessa and I visited Cornerstone, we were struck by how the church engaged with the community, and it’s something we’re very much looking forward to continuing with.

“On the first visit here, we knew we’d found the right place.

“It all seemed to gel perfectly and now we’re just looking forward to getting started.”