WIMBORNE Minster's new rector has led his first service at the church.

Hundreds watched as grandad-of-four Reverend Andrew Rowland was installed as the rector of Wimborne and the northern villages on Wednesday, September 5.

The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell, East Dorset District Council chair Cllr Toni Coombs, Wimborne's deputy mayor Cllr Shane Bartlett and the vice chairman of Dorset County Council Cllr David Shortell were among the congregation.

A further 70 parishioners from Rev Rowland's former parish of West Moors, where he had served as vicar since 2005, also attended, along with residents of Verwood, where the reverend served his curacy in 2001.

Members of Rev Rowland's family from as far afield as Bedfordshire and Kent joined clergy from across the Wimborne deanery, as well as representatives from the Salisbury Diocese, at the celebrations.

The reverend is also the rural dean of Wimborne.

During the event, Rev Canon Chris Tebbutt, assistant rural dean of Wimborne, gave an opening welcome as one of his last duties before he steps down in September. He will remain rector of Canford Magna.

The service was conducted by the Bishop of Sherborne, the Right Revd Karen Gorham, and the Archdeacon of Dorset, the Venerable Antony MacRow-Wood.

The Benefice Choir, the Minster Alternative Choir and the Gentleman of the Minster Choir led the singing.

Rev Rowland and his wife Zahra have three adult children and four grandchildren. The couple say they are "delighted" to have moved to Wimborne, and are looking forward to being involved in church and civic life throughout the benefice.

Rev Rowland's early career took him to Lebanon in the late 1970s. The Arabic speaker returned to the UK in 1983 from several years in Nigeria before becoming the managing director of a group of companies involved in manufacturing ventilation systems and light engineering.

He then took a degree in theology before becoming ordained in Salisbury Cathedral as a deacon in 2001 and priest in 2002. He has served as a chaplain to Dorset Police and the Great Dorset Steam Fair since 2006 and is involved in a number of charities and good causes, including the 'coach in the community' initiative.

“I am delighted and humbled to have been offered the post," Rev Rowland said.

"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."

He conducted his first service at the Minster on Sunday, September 9. The date marked the Minster Patronal Festival and the 1,300th anniversary of the death of the church's patron saint, St Cuthburga.