The vicar of a Burntwood church is preparing to bid a fond farewell after 25 years at the heart of the community.

The Reverend David Weaver has been at the helm at Christ Church for a quarter of a century.

Mr Weaver will say goodbye to Burntwood on September 16 – his 65th birthday. “It will be a big wrench to leave everybody here. In 25 years, you make an awful lot of friends, and it will be very sad to say goodbye,” he said. In September he and wife Linda will be moving to Cirencester.

Despite the changes ahead, Mr Weaver said all of the organisation involved meant he and his wife Linda had had plenty of time to get used to the idea.

He said: “So much planning goes into it, because when you leave as vicar, you don’t just leave your job; it means moving house and moving to a new community.

“In the church, when you make way for a new vicar, you have to move at least 15 miles away.”

The pair plan to spend their golden years travelling and pursuing their hobbies.

Mr Weaver said: “We want to travel a bit more and spend more time with our children and grandchildren.

“We both have a lot of hobbies. Linda can spend some more time painting, and I like birdwatching and model railways.”

Christ Church held its first flower festival since 1989 to mark Rev Weaver’s retirement, helped by groups from all parts of the community in Burntwood.

He said: “It was absolutely amazing, we had displays from local schools, the Women’s Institute, scouts and guides, the local florist – so many people.”

Mr Weaver said he was looking forward to a family barbecue in August with children Peter, Hillary and Heather, and their five grandchildren. He said: “We’ve been here 25 years, and they all spent some time in Burntwood. It’s sad to leave but we’re seeing it as a time to look forward.”