A Norfolk church is taking an unconventional approach to finding its new rector - by launching an area-wide survey.
Fakenham Parish Church has put together a "parish profile" poll to give residents the opportunity to have their say on the sort of person they want to see employed by the church following the retirement of current rector Rev Francis Mason.
The questions ask locals what they value about the church, what role they want the church to play in Fakenham’s community and, most importantly, what characteristics the new rector should possess.
Churchwarden Keith Osborn told the Fakenham Times that the response to the anonymous survey has been good so far.
"When the rector comes, he is for Fakenham, it is not just the church, it is for all the people in the town who interact with the church,” he said.
“It is for the 80 people who come every week, and to those who come along for a coffee on a Thursday during the market."
Osborn added that they are looking to get the "temperature of the town" and "to see the sort of person the town thinks we need, as well as what we should be doing in next five or ten years".
He added that the main theme coming up in the responses is a desire to maintain the friendly atmosphere at the church. He noted that it will take a few months before a potential rector is found.
