A FORMER patissier and children's nurse has been appointed as Dulverton's new rector. The Rev Andrew Thomas was instituted into his new role as rector in charge of a benefice which includes Brushford, Brompton Regis, Skilgate, Upton and Withiel Florey at a ceremony at All Saints Church in Dulverton last Saturday. A 200-strong congregation of friends, family and supporters watched as the Right Rev Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells, carried out the installation, with the Archdeacon of Taunton, the Venerable John Reed overseeing the induction. Mr Thomas, 38, has spent the last year or so as a Royal Navy chaplain, attending Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and serving at HMS Drake in Devonport and on board HMS Argyll. But his first career path after leaving school saw him attending Westminster Catering College and going on to work as a patissier at London's Savoy Hotel for Sir Terrence Conran and at Harrods. But after becoming involved with the St John Ambulance Brigade and deciding he wanted more fulfilment in life, Mr Thomas had a career change to nursing. After undertaking initial training in 1995 at University College, Worcester, he worked in intensive care at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he eventually returned to university life to undertake specialised children's nursing training. After a stint at Vancouver Children's Hospital in western Canada, Mr Thomas returned to England to work at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, caring for children with heart disease in intensive care. And it was during his nursing career that he felt drawn to the Church of England ministry. After training at Westcott House, Cambridge Mr Thomas was ordained deacon into the Oxford Diocese in 2010 and then priest the following year. He went on to serve his curacy in the Benefice of The Cookhams in Berkshire, during which he was also a member of the Oxford Diocese Liturgical Committee and a seasonal chaplain for Ascot Racecourse and Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford. And he also found time to initiate and manage a change in the provision for baptism preparation in the benefice and the rewriting of its service booklets. In his spare time Mr Thomas enjoys being a devoted uncle to his sister's three children and is also keen on running, riding, swimming and fly fishing. The Rev Thomas is pictured after his installation as rector of the Dulverton.