TAUNTON'S premier church will continue to be without a vicar for at least another nine months.

An advert for a new incumbent at St Mary Magdalene Church will go out in January, with interviews likely to take place the following month.

Once a priest is chosen, it could be at least another three months before they take up the post as they would need to give three months' notice in their current parish.

The vacancy has arisen following the departure of the Rev Rod Corke, who left St Mary's in May after 12 years to become vicar at Great Malvern Priory, in the Worcester diocese.

The next vicar, who will also have responsibility for the benefice of St John the Evangelist Church in the town, will be the first person to live in the new vicarage currently under construction in the grounds of the previous one, which is to be sold.

Work has started on a document giving details of St Mary's and St John's for potential candidates.

The draft will be ready by early October for approval of the parochial church council and the Rev Preb Simon Hill before being shown to the Bishop of Bah and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Hancock and the Church Patronage Trust.