THE Rev Ken Wilkinson has been a church minister for 35 years, but most people have no idea which denomination he belongs to.

The 65-year-old United Reformed Church minister retires at the end of this month after 11 years on the team of Methodist, Baptist, URC and Church of England clerics who work at the Pilgrim Centre, home of Swindon's Central Church.

Besides holding regular religious services, the centre in Regent Circus is also a base for community support and Christian work among workers and shoppers in Swindon's commercial and retail centre.

It has meetings rooms, which are used by Swindon Council, health trusts and local charities, and provides space where people who are stressed or lonely can make new friends.

It also has a coffee bar which serves snacks and hot meals.

For most of his time at the centre Mr Wilkinson has refused to wear clerical garb. He believes it is archaic and puts the clergy on a pedestal away from ordinary people. "After all, I am only an ordained lay person," he said.

The Pilgrim Centre occupies the site of the colonnaded Victorian Baptist Tabernacle, whose demolition caused uproar among countless Swindon people who believed its classical exterior should have been preserved.

Mr Wilkinson, who was ordained as a United Reformed Church minister 35 years ago, came to Swindon from Redditch as team leader of the new interdenominational Central Church months after it opened.

He has been nicknamed Mr Ecumenism, and believes churches should pool their resources and work in partnership.

A farewell service will be held at the Pilgrim Centre on Sunday July 28. Preacher will be the Rev Ray Adams, deputy general secretary of the United Reformed Church.