A GROUP of parishioners have taken the rare first step towards getting rid of their vicar.
They want the Bishop of Bath and Wells to remove the Rev David Manning from St Michael's Church, Creech St Michael, due to "pastoral breakdown".
Mr Manning, the vicar since 1991, is "surprised and saddened" by the move, which could lead to a Church Court hearing.
A majority of church members present voted at an extraordinary parochial church meeting to petition the Rt Rev Peter Price under the Incumbents' Vacation of Benefices Measure - last used to force out a vicar in the diocese 20 years ago.
A list of unattributed allegations against Mr Manning appeared in the minutes of the annual vestry and parochial meeting and the extraordinary parochial church meeting - neither of which he attended.
For the full story, see this week's Somerset County Gazette.
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