PARISHES are set to welcome a new senior priest following a thorough recruitment process – and he has not travelled far to take the role.

The governors of Wimborne Minster have announced Rev Andrew Rowland will become the next rector of Wimborne Minster and the Northern Villages.

He is currently vicar of West Moors and rural dean of Wimborne in the Diocese of Salisbury.

Rev Rowland’s early career took him to Lebanon in the late 1970s from where he travelled the Middle East.

Returning home in 1983 from several years in Nigeria, he progressed to managing director of a privately-owned group of local companies principally involved in the manufacturing of ventilation systems, light engineering, electronics and prefabricated sectional buildings.

Rev Rowland, who can speak Arabic, is married to Zahra. The couple have three adult children – John, Christopher and Hannah – and four grandsons.

The family’s hobbies and interests include gardening, cuisine and ‘planes and trains’.

On the announcement of his appointment, Rev Rowland said: “I am delighted and humbled to have been offered the post of rector of Wimborne Minster and the Northern Villages Benefice.

“Zahra and I are very much looking forward to moving to Wimborne in the summer.

“We send our greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ and thank you for all who have prayed for, and worked towards this appointment.

“We assure you of our goodwill and prayers for you all, and ask you to pray for us too.

“Our intention is to pray, serve and grow – together, for the sake of proclaiming the Gospel and furthering the Kingdom of God”

After taking a degree in Theology at Southampton and Surrey University Andrew was ordained in Salisbury Cathedral as deacon in 2001 and priest in 2002.

He served his curacy at Verwood before being appointed vicar of West Moors in 2005. He was appointed to the additional position of rural dean of Wimborne in 2016.

Rev Rowland has also been a chaplain to the Dorset Police and the Great Dorset Steam Fair since 2006.

Away from ministry he is chairman of the ‘Coach in the Community’ youth support charity – the coach is seen in Wimborne town square on Friday nights.

The appointment comes after the previous rector, Rev Canon Vanessa Herrick, who took the role of Archdeacon of Harlow in the Diocese of Chelmsford last year. A date for Rev Rowland’s institution will be announced in due course.