CHURCH of England organisation in Highcliffe and adjoining rural parishes is set to undergo something of a reformation following a clutch of clergy retirements.

The departure of Highcliffe and Hinton Admiral assistant Curate the Rev Dr John Watson earlier this month has triggered a process of pastoral reorganisation in the Christchurch Deanery which has to shed four full time paid priests before 2010 because of the high number of clergy due to retire across the church as a whole.

Fr John, who came to the parish in 2001, took special responsibility for the 200-year-old church of St Michael and All Angels at Hinton and his post at assistant curate in the united benefice has already been earmarked as one to be cut.

As part of an emerging strategy for the future deployment of clergy in the deanery it is proposed to sever the 50-year-old ties with Highcliffe and transfer Hinton church into a new combined parish with the adjoining benefice of St Luke's at Burton and St Michael and All Angels at Sopley.

In the meantime Hinton will continue to be ministered by Vicar of Highcliffe the Rev Garry Taylor who has been at St Mark's parish church since Easter 2004.

Writing in the current parish magazine, Mr Taylor said: "The process will take some time to complete and all are concerned that the result should be as positive for everyone as possible, although every parish in the deanery os going to have to make sacrifices in some way or another.

"It is important to realise that this has not been driven primarily by financial considerations nor by a big shortage in new vocations to the ministry."

"This is a question of using the ministries we have to their full potential."

Church warden Jean Trusler said: "It is quite a difficult time that we are going through but Hinton church does have a faithful congregation that enjoys coming here.

"This will be an ongoing thing and there will be a lot more to find out before it is finalised."