The Reverend Robin Pye was installed as the new vicar of St Philip and St James Church at a packed service conducted by the Bishop of Stockport on Monday, 15th May.
Robin, who was previously curate at St Peter's Hale and St Elizabeth's Ashley, moved into the vicarage opposite the church a few days before the service together with his wife, Marian, who is a senior civil servant working for the Department of International Trade.
They have two grown up children. Their son, Danny, is a doctor at Salford Royal Hospital and he is getting married in the church in July. Their daughter, Leyla, is an engineer, and is currently studying for an MA in International relations and Economics at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Robin and Marian have also brought their cat with them to the vicarage and two chickens who are living on the vicarage lawn. There are also two empty chicken coops on the lawn which suggests there may be more chickens coming in the future.
Robin has previously worked for FC United of Manchester, the fans-owned football club established by Manchester United fans in 2005. Before that he worked as a secondary school teacher.
Robin told alderleyedge.com, "Every time I step out of my house, my eyes are drawn upwards by the church tower. It looks amazing now that the scaffolding has finally come off. It reminds me of the faith of the people who built this church over 150 years ago and also the faith of my predecessor, the Reverend Jane Parry and all the members of this congregation who have worked so hard to get the tower repaired. And, of course, the tower points towards the heavens, so it reminds me of God."
He added "I am very much looking forward to being the vicar of this church. The welcome we have had has been wonderful. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the congregation to develop the West End Heritage Centre and Community Space at the back of the church and to find other ways to reach out into this community and share God's love with everybody in it."
St Philip and St James Church are participating in an international prayer campaign launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury starting on 25th May and running for ten days. Called Thy Kingdom Come, it involves prayers being said for the community of Alderley Edge and for the world every day at 8am and 5.30pm.
Rev Pye said "We'd love to hear what people think we should be praying for and, of course, we'd love for people to come and pray with us."
Photo: The service of installation, Rev Pye forefront with the Bishop of Stockport behind him.
