CHRIST Church Ainsworth has named the Rev David Griffiths as its new vicar.

Mr Griffiths (58) will replace Father Alan Flaherty who died in January after ten years at the parish church.

In addition, Mr Griffiths will also be the Ecumenical Ministry Development Adviser for the borough of Bury, and associate priest with the Anglican parishes of Radcliffe.

He will leave Christ Church, Bolton, in January when he will take up the post of Priest-in-Charge of Christ Church Ainsworth.

As development adviser, Mr Griffiths will operate across the widest possible ecumenical spectrum, supporting the development of community orientated and shared ministry.

He said he had enjoyed his ten years of ministry in Bolton but is looking forward to the new challenges offered by working across the churches of Bury to support and encourage developments in the church's ministry.

Mr Griffiths is married with three grown-up children. He and his wife, Brenda, are interested in Third World issues, gardening, walking, concerts and theatre-going.

Ainsworth church warden Mr Chris Haworth said: "We look forward to having David and Brenda moving into the vicarage and working with them in this new stage of the church's long history."