DEDWORTH'S All Saints Church was packed on Monday night as parishioners welcomed their new vicar.

But if Reverend Nigel Richards looked a bit familiar to some people, it could just be that they had done business with him before in a very different environment.

Mr Richards worked as an estate agent for 18 years, some of the time in Windsor.

But he said: "I was always a Christian and after all, both are 'people' jobs."

In the end Mr Richards listened to friends who thought he should think seriously about whether he had a calling. He spent three years as curate at Binfield and 16 months as an associate (assistant) priest at Warfield - Dedworth is his first parish.

But Mr Richards, who is married to Rosie and has two daughters Phoebe and Mimi, already feels at home.

He said: "My sister lived just round the corner so I know the area well."

Mr Richards' induction was a major event in Dedworth. Regular users of All Saints have been waiting patiently since longstanding vicar Reverend Louise Brown retired a few months ago after many years as a popular community leader.

The Bishop of Reading Right Reverend Andrew Proud - soon to retire himself - and Area Dean of Windsor and Maidenhead Reverend Ainsley Swift were in attendance at the induction and after the service the congregation was invited to stay for refreshments and to meet the new 'man at All Saints'.