Dawlish News

A DAWLISH vicar is to have four months away from his church after falling out with his choir and congregation.
The Rev Jerry Bird is to leave his flock at the St Gregory the Great Church for four months to have 'time to seek God'.
His departure comes after his entire 18-strong choir quit last year, leaving no one to sing any carols.
Parishioners claim resentment against the vicar, who has been in post for seven years, has become so acute that attendance has fallen from 200 to 50 in that time.
Judith Holmes, a member of the parochial church council and of the choir, said the problems had developed over 18 months. When Mr Bird came here there was a thriving parish with a thriving youth group. It's no longer thriving. It has disintegrated," she said.

She added: "We felt our organist was being undermined and we could not provide the services we are capable of. The music has changed and the standards have gone down.
"We feel we're not part of the church anymore."
The church choir which resigned has renamed itself the St Cecilia choir and sings at other local churches by invitation.

There were rumours Mr Bird's 'happy-clappy' style was the cause of his parishioners' discontent.