IT has taken years but a Fareham church now has a new face in the pulpit.
Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Fareham has a new pastor after a four-year vacancy period.
The Rev David Cowan was installed as pastor by the deputy chairman of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, the Rev Jon Ehlers.
Mr Cowan said: "It is always difficult for a vacant church to sustain itself, but the congregation in Fareham deserves so much praise for keeping going without a serving pastor. I think they will see their faith rewarded with growth going forward."
Our Saviour was established in 1972 and Mr Cowan is the third pastor to serve the church in its 34 years. Next year the congregation will celebrate their 35th anniversary.
Mr Cowan has two degrees in theology from Oxford University, and trained for ministry at Westfield House, the Lutheran seminary in Cambridge. In the new year his first book, called Economic Parables, will be published by Authentic Media/Paternoster Press in America.
He has worked in Europe, Canada and America. He is married to Hanny, and has two children, David, 15, and Yasmin, 12.
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