The Team Rector of Dorchester and The Winterbournes ministry is to become a Royal Chaplain.

Revd Thomas Woodhouse has handed in his notice ahead of a royal appointment by Her Majesty the Queen.

He has been appointed as Chaplain of the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy.

Revd Woodhouse told the Echo: “I am going to miss Dorchester and I am going to miss being involved in the Diocese of Salisbury, it has been a great privilege.”

Revd Woodhouse joined the Dorchester and Winterbournes team ministry having previously served in Wootton Bassett between 2005 and 2014.

He was first ordained in 1995 and served in Gloucester.

His new appointment will see him become a Deputy-Priest-in-Ordinary and a Canon of the Chapels Royal.

He said: “I will have partial responsibility for the congregation who worship in the priest’s chapel. I am also going to be a chaplain of the Royal Victorian Order.”

He added: “I shall seek to see what partnership we can develop with the Diocese of London and the churches that are close to the chapel.

“As a Deputy-Priest-in-Ordinary I shall support the ministry of the Dean and Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal.”

Discussing the prospect of moving, he said: “I think my wife and I are young enough and our children are old enough for us to be excited by the prospect of doing something completely different and new.”

He added: “We have had the best of both worlds in the Dorchester and Winterbournes team. We have a town that offers all sorts of resources and we are in easy reach of beautiful countryside.”

He said he has built many good relationships during his time in the area, including with the Islamic Centre and Dorchester Agricultural Society.

A service to conclude the ministry of Thomas Woodhouse as Team Rector of Dorchester and The Winterbournes will be taking place on Saturday, September 14 at 6pm at St Mary’s Church in Dorchester.

Revd Woodhouse will begin his new ministry in October.