HE is going to be a busy bee when he up sticks and moves to a new parish.

For the last six years a rectory garden in a leafy Southampton suburb has been a hive of industry and a blessing in helping to keep colds and flu at bay.

The Rev John Owen, whose parish covers St Michael and All Angels, Bassett and North Stoneham, has been running such a successful bee colony that it has produced enough honey for local shops and the congregation.

Now the rector has the massive task of transferring his hives and about 120,000 bees because he is leaving the parish next month to take up a new appointment as Vicar of Steep, Froxfield and Privett in the Diocese of Portsmouth.

His beekeeping hobby will not be out of place in his new posting which is a rural community in East Hampshire, close to the South Downs National Park.

Mr Owen said: “Bassett gardens are full of flowers and are great in providing bees with lots of free pollen and nectar. We get quite a good yield.”

It is enough to fill about 80 jars and the rector says: “The honey is very good for colds and flu and comes high on the list of recommendations from doctors. We cannot produce enough to keep up with demand.”

Other local residents have followed in the rector’s footsteps and caught the beekeeping bug.

Mr Owen, aged 56, who has three daughters and a grandchild, will be sorry to leave the parish which he has served since 1995.

With a population of about 14,000 it is one of the biggest parishes in the city and he says: “I have enjoyed being part of the life of this busy suburban parish on the northern edge of Southampton.

“There are some very good people here and the church has a strong choral tradition.”

There have been many milestone events during his time in the parish, including the 100th anniversary of the Bassett Avenue church. There have been major extensions to church buildings, including St Nicolas at North Stoneham.

Mr Owen believes that in these uncertain credit crunch times more people are turning to the church.

He said: “Last year’s Christmas and Easter services were very well attended and we have noticed that congregations generally have been increasing. The church can act as an anchor in helping people through some very difficult times.”

Mr Owen became a priest 27 years ago and says: “If the opportunity arose I always thought that I would like to try a rural ministry.”

His new flock is smaller but the community of about 2,500 is spread over a number of villages with four centres of worship.

“I am looking forward to the challenge,” he says as he prepares to make a beeline for his new parish.

And his parishioners will be hoping that their new vicar’s honey pot prescription will provide a miracle cure for those nasty flu and cold bugs.