Habemus Sacerdotem! We are delighted to invite all of our parishioners and friends to the licensing of our new Priest-in-Charge, The Revd Adetola Omobolaji Badejo, by The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark and The Venerable Alastair Cutting, Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, at our morning Holy Communion service on Christmas Eve.

First reading: 2 Samuel 7.1-11,16
Gospel: Luke 1.26-38

It is a great pleasure to welcome Tola as our Priest-in-Charge, initially for an period of two years. This interim arrangement was arrived at jointly by the PCC, the Patrons of the parish and the Diocesan authorities as a way of filling the vacancy as quickly as possible - it is not unknown for a vacancy to last as long as eight years!

Tola will live in the vicarage once essential renovation work, currently in hand, has been completed, and will combine his work in our parish with his existing role as a hospital chaplain. He brings a wealth of experience not only as a priest but also in health, social care and housing. We are privileged that he has chosen to join us.

In the Licensing Service, the Bishop confers upon the new Priest the 'cure of souls' in the parish, thereby giving him the authority to exercise formal Christian ministry. Before this happens, both priest and congregation have to make some solemn promises: the Priest must publicly affirm loyalty to the Church of England and its doctrines, to the Crown and, 'in all things lawful', to the Bishop, and the congregation must similarly renew their commitment to the Christian faith.