CRICKLADE will be left without a vicar from next month because of cutbacks in the Church of England.

The Rev Stephen Oram is due to take up a post at the Southmead Hospital in Bristol as co-ordinating chaplain.

But because of the Church's nationwide financial problems, Mr Oram will not be replaced.

Earlier in the year, the Advertiser reported how if the Church does not take action soon to remedy one of its greatest financial headaches, it will rack up huge debts by 2010.

So as part of the church's new system to release the energies of its congregation, Mr Oram will also be asking his churchgoers to come forward and train to take services.

Mr Oram will take his last service at St Sampson's Church on Sunday, September 19.

The Rev Paul Selley, vicar of Ashton Keynes and Leigh, will be asked to take on the additional responsibilities for Cricklade and Latton.

This isn't as drastic as in other parts of Wiltshire where there will be one priest covering 10 churches.

Mr Oram, who has been the Cricklade and Latton vicar for seven years, said: "I've been part of a difficult period of transition here where the focus of the ministry has moved away from the parish priest towards the wider community.

"The focus now will be on lay people taking on more responsibilities. There might not always be a parish priest at every service."

But Mr Oram says such administrative struggles won't taint his view of the town and its people.

"Of course, I will take with me some very fond memories of my time here and I've enjoyed meeting the wonderful folk of Cricklade and Latton."

Mr Oram says the highlights of his seven-year stint in the town range from pulling pints at the Vale of the White Horse social club to getting involved in each baptism, marriage and funeral. He says his new job will take him back to his roots, as he is a qualified nurse and used to work in psychiatry.

"It will be very different to what I'm doing now and there will be a greater focus on pastoral care," said Mr Oram.

"I will be working with a team of clergy on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"People might think it will be a miserable job dealing with illness and death. But really it will involve every aspect of life from birth+right the way through."

Mr Oram starts his new job in Bristol on October 4.

Emma-Kate Lidbury