ROMSEY Abbey has announced a new Vicar to take over later this year.

The Abbey has been without a Vicar since the departure of Reverend Canon Tim Sledge, who left last summer.

Now, the Abbey has said that Reverend Thomas Wharton, who is currently based in West End, will take over the role in September.

Revd Wharton is the Priest-in-Charge at St James', and prior to that had held the post of Team Vicar in the parish of Smannell and Enham Alamein, as part of which, he was Chaplain to the Enham Disability Charity.

Thomas said: "I'm really excited to be joining the community of Romsey Abbey and St Swithuns, Crampmoor.

"I'm looking forward to meeting people and finding out about the many things that go on, in and around the Abbey!

"It will be a privilege to work and pray together in this next chapter of the Abbey's life."

Thomas, whose wife Vessi works in Southampton, will move to Romsey later in the summer, and will be officially welcomed to the Parish by the Bishop of Southampton, the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost at a service to take place in the Abbey on September 3.

The Abbey said in a statement: "We are very much looking forward to Thomas and his family joining us in the near future.

"We are sure that he will be a great asset not only to our congregations but also the network of Romsey Churches and the local community they serve."

In further changes to the Abbey, current reverend Jonathan Watkins will preach his final service in Romsey Abbey this Sunday.

Jonathan was welcomed to the Abbey at the Epiphany Gift Service in January 2017.

The Abbey has invited residents to show their appreciation for his work at 10am this week.

The clergy, churchwardens and congregation will recognise their appreciation of his work and ministry, particularly for his involvement with the congregation at St Swithun's, Campmoor.

Jonathan has been appointed as Priest-in-Charge of St Mary, Knutton, in the Diocese of Lichfield and will be licensed on June 16.