The Archdeacon of Sherborne is retiring after 14 years of service.

The Ven Paul Taylor will be moving back to the West Midlands with his wife Jan later in the summer.

The Bishop of Salisbury Nicholas Holtam has praised the Archdeacon for his service to the diocese.

He said: “Paul Taylor has been a wonderful parish priest of an Archdeacon. He has loved West Dorset and knows everyone.

“At his farewell it was said that he brought love and joy and they don’t say that about every Archdeacon in the Church of England!

“He developed ‘clergy wellbeing’ in this diocese into something special, oversaw work that was grouped under the heading of ‘social justice’ and knew that theology matters and shapes who we are as a church and what we do as people. We wish him and Jan a long, happy and healthy retirement.”

His farewell service was held at Sherborne Abbey and was attended by his family and friends from around Dorset and beyond. A more intimate farewell was also held at St Andrew’s Church in West Stafford where the Taylors have lived.

Speaking after the service, Paul said: “The people have been the best part of my time here. That’s what I’ll miss most, along with the many pastoral relationships that come with them.

“Priesthood predominates through everything, which is about the pastoral care of people. For better or worse, I have treated the Archdeaconry like a very large parish. Relationship also builds affection, and I have always been naturally inquisitive about the stories the people I’ve met with tell.

“My own faith has grown in the context of pastoral encounters. My knowledge of God increases as I hear the experiences and perceptions of those different from myself.; to create God in our own image is a huge danger for all of us.

He added: Another part of the role I’ve enjoyed enormously has been sports chaplaincy. I’veis being sports chaplain to Dorchester FC for last 12 years. Going along in a dog collar in a situation where few people are churchgoers has led to some interesting conversations.”

“As Archdeacon, I have had to operate the systems of the church and maintain the order of the church. I’ve been happy to do so, but am also aware this is not about perpetuating the church but building the Kingdom of God. The structures of the Church of England, operated correctly, are not repressive but actually liberate us to focus on building the Kingdom of God.”