THE Church of England's longest serving priest has been leading services of worship every week at a Dorset care home.

Reverend Jim Cocke, 94, has been leading Sunday services at Colten Care's Castle View care home in Poundbury since the first lockdown began more than a year ago.

When the Covid pandemic began, external church representatives were unable to go out to visit care homes and hold services due to lockdown restrictions, so Rev Cocke stepped up to lead group sessions in the home, and he has not missed a single one.

Every Sunday morning since March 2020, he has led a half hour service to give his fellow residents a regular focal point for Bible reading, prayer, worship and hymns.

Reflecting on the past year, Rev Cocke said: "I have gratefully appreciated the opportunity to lead our active worship each week."

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Rev Cocke was the Church of England's longest serving priest until his retirement in January 2020. Until his retirement, he was an ordained priest for more than 67 years. He began his ministry as an assistant curate at All Saints' Headington, in Oxford, in 1952 and became vicar there five years later.

He served there until his retirement at the beginning of last year when he moved into the Poundbury care home to be closer to his family, including four children, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Ashika Reddy, manager of Colten Care's Castle View home, said: "Our Sunday services are very popular and we have seen the comfort and peace that Jim has provided our residents during this very difficult time.

"In each service, he covers seasonal topics and addresses local and global issues with prayers that help to keep Castle View's community in faith and hope."

Thanking Rev Cock, Ashika said: "We have the most heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity that Jim continues to offer by creating this weekly space for reflection."

Colten Care owns 21 care homes in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex, including Castle Care in Poundbury, Whitecliffe in Blandford, and Abbey View in Sherborne.

For more information on Colten Care, visit www.coltencare.co.uk/