The Vicar of St Gregory's Parish Church in Seaton and St Michael's in Beer, the Reverend Jeremy Trew, is leaving the area after 14 years to take up a new appointment in Saffron Walden.

The news that the Reverend Trew and his family are moving to pastures new has been received with great sadness by parishioners.

Churchwardens Dave Bruce and Gayle Chapple have announced that the Reverend Trew will be licenced as Team Rector of the Saffron Walden and Villages Team on the March 3rd and he will also to serve as Area Dean, working with the 12 churches in the wider deanery.

His wife Alison will continue to work for an educational charity supporting primary teachers to develop science in their schools. Their daughters, Rachel and Eleanor (both students) and former pupils of the Woodroffe  and Colyton Grammar schools, will be joining their parents in their holidays.

Rachel is a second year student at the University of the West of England, Bristol, studying Business Studies. Presently, as all her lectures are online, she will be moving to Saffron Walden with her parents. Eleanor is currently working abroad but will return to Edinburgh University this September to finish her architectural degree. 

The Reverend Trew was ordained in 1997. His first Ministry was in a little village near Harrogate, Yorkshire, where he looked after four churches. He was appointed as Vicar of St Gregory's and St Michael's in 2007.

During his time in St Gregory's and St Michael's the churches have grown their links with the local community with initiatives such as the Messy Church, Open the Book at Seaton and Beer Primary Schools, the Freedom Cafe, the improvements to the Church Hall, Friends of St Gregory and the well-used Children's Music Sessions for two to four years-old in both parishes. The Reverend Trew even used to entertain many at public events with fire-eating tricks.

Services at St Gregory's and St Michael's will now be conducted by Associate Priests Alison Finch and Simon Hitchcock with support from Reader Sue Price and retired Vicars, John Holder and Chris Thacker.

In a tribute to the Reverend Trew and his family, Mr Bruce said: "We all wish Jeremy and his lovely family every happiness and good health in their new home at Saffron Walden."