An opportunity to co-operate and educate is the message from the new rector of six Hampshire villages.

Canon Graham Hendy has been installed as rector for Cheriton, Beauworth, Bramdean, Hinton Ampner, Kilmeston and Tichborne.

"We have some very able people here. The overriding aim is making these six parishes work as a mission unit and not pursue different paths as six conflicting groups," he says.

The parishes, near Winchester, were previously under the ministry of the Revd Robert Williams, who left in June owing to health problems.

Canon Hendy (56) was installed by the Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt, at a service in St Michael and All Angels, Cheriton.

His previous ministry was as a canon at Southwell Cathedral in Nottinghamshire. Before that, he was rector of two villages in Norfolk. "I'm used to dealing with more than one village, but it's quite a jump from two to six," he says.

Canon Hendy feels faith plays an important role in modern society. "People are busy chasing around, trying to find a meaning to life, and sometimes feel their life is no longer in their control."

Canon Hendy attended Canford School, in Wimborne, where at 16 he became interested in joining the clergy.

He then graduated from Durham University, attended Salisbury Theological College, and took a one-year teaching course at Cambridge University.

Mr Hendy's interests include embroidery, photography, gardening, and teaching. He and his wife, Margaret, have 25-year-old twin daughters, Philippa and Lindsay, who live in Hertfordshire and Scotland respectively.