A TAUNTON vicar who took up his post in January will meet his congregation for the first time tomorrow (Friday).

The Good Friday service at St George's, Wilton, will mark the first time the Rev Dr Nick Griffin comes face to face with worshippers.

His appointment to St George's just over two months ago marked a return to the town he grew up in.

The Rev Dr Griffin, 36, who is married with two children, was educated in the county town at Bishop Henderson and Bishop Fox's schools and Richard Huish College.

He said: "I love the town and my wife is local as well.

"It's lovely to be back serving a church I used to walk past on my way home from school.

"It's got a really vibrant congregation. There's lots of hope and I'm excited about what's coming up in the next few years.

"It's been quite an extraordinary start.

"I've learned how to record videos for online services, which is all good and fun, but you can't really replace seeing people face to face."

The Rev Dr Griffin obtained a degree in applied theology from Moorlands College, Bournemouth, before studying for a Masters at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

He was then appointed assistant curate at Holy Trinity Church, Frome, before becoming chaplain at Plymouth Marjon University.

He was vicar of six Blackdown Hills churches, and has also trained vicars at St Mellitus Theological College, where he served as chaplain.

He recently completed a PhD in theology and religious studies at King's College, London.

The Rev Dr Griffin, who used to attend church in Trull when he previously lived locally, said: "My vision at St George's is to offer energy and excitement, to make it a place where people want to engage and come along.

"We're launching small groups and engaging with the community. We want to build up good relations when issues with such as food and mental health arise.

"I only only started two months ago, but we've managed to get 50 people together across six weeks.

"My hope is to help the town regain some of its confidence following the pandemic."