On a warm winter's morning in the lovely church in the village of Llanos del Peral in the Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida the Revd Vincent Oram was licensed as Chaplain by Archdeacon Geoff Johnston on 9 February.

The church had been newly painted both inside and out by the local authority in honour of this special occasion.  Over 80 members from all three congregations in the chaplaincy turned out to welcome and pray for their new priest and his wife Robyn Ann as they begin their life and ministry in the south of Spain.  The local Roman Catholic priest, Fr Miguel, also shared in the service presenting a symbolic gift to highlight the importance of the excellent ecumenical relationships that exist in the chaplaincy. 

Fr Vincent, was born in South Africa and served in some difficult and poverty-stricken parishes in South Africa both before and after apartheid. Then he went to England and has served in parishes in Hertfordshire for 18 years.

"Fr Vincent now comes to face the challenges and opportunities provided by a Spanish chaplaincy" commented Archdeacon Geoff. "Costa Almeria and Costa Calida is a large chaplaincy, covering an area the size of Wales.  We are delighted that Fr Vincent has come to share his experience and wisdom with the chaplaincy, Archdeacony and Diocese."