A SERVICE of Commissioning and Thanksgiving held for the Minehead school pastor scheme was attended by over 100 people representing many different local churches.

The 23 pastors, now fully trained and recognised, come from different churches across West Somerset.

At the service, chairman of Churches Together in Minehead, the Rev Andrew Vidamour, thanked them for coming forward to serve their community either as school, street or prayer pastors.

They wore their new uniforms with pride as they were each presented with a Bible by Julian Wilford, of the Gideon Society, to use themselves or pass on to someone who might be in more need of it.

Prayers of blessing were held over each of the pastors with members of the congregation surrounding them. These were led by the Rev Andrew McCausland, of Minehead Baptist Church, in the company of a full range of church leaders from the many Christian denominations represented in West Somerset.

Full report in the Free Press