ALL Saints Church in Ilkley has announced the appointment of the Rev Mike Coe as the new vicar.

The Rev Coe is currently serving as Rector of St Matthew, St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Interim Priest-in-Charge of St. Leonard & St. Ethelburga, St. Leonards-on-Sea and Rural Dean of Hastings.

Mike is 55-years-old, married to Lisa with four adult children and three grandchildren.

He comes from Romford in Essex and gained a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Bath.

After university he worked in business as a sales and marketing manager, as a Christian youth worker, an itinerant evangelist and a part-time Bible college lecturer.

He trained to be a vicar in Oxford, followed by a three-year ‘vicar’s apprenticeship’ in Northampton. He moved to become the vicar of St. Matthew, St. Leonards-on-Sea in 2003.

He has also become the interim Priest-in-Charge of St. Leonard and St. Ethelburga, St. Leonards-on-Sea, and for the past five years has been the Rural Dean of Hastings.

He is a Director of the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust and has sat on various Diocesan committees. In addition, he has been a school governor at both primary and secondary schools, including St. Paul’s Church of England Primary Academy, St. Leonards-on-Sea, the largest church primary school in East Sussex.

He is a lifelong supporter of West Ham United, and you’ll usually find him watching a local football or rugby team on a Saturday afternoon.

He likes going to the cinema, endures going to the gym, is always looking for new foreign-language TV dramas to watch or WW2 history books to read.

He and Lisa have great travel plans when time and money allow. Having spent 12 years walking the family’s pet labrador Honey on the beach, he’s looking forward to introducing her to some hills.

On being appointed as Vicar of All Saints, Mike said: “I’m thrilled to be appointed to this exciting role. I have loved my 15 years in East Sussex but know it’s time for a new challenge. I’ve got to know Ilkley and All Saints Church over the past few years through visiting family in the town, and I’m eagerly anticipating becoming part of both the church family and the wider Ilkley community.

"We look forward to getting to know everyone in the coming months and working together in whatever God has planned for the future."

Members of All Saints Ilkley were delighted to make the announcement on Sunday and look forward to welcoming Mike and his wife, which will probably be in September.