A popular and well-known Trowbridge parish priest is set for a new move after 27 years ministering to his Catholic congregation in the town.

Canon Liam O’Driscoll is looking ahead to 18 September when he moves from St John the Baptist Church to St Thomas More Catholic Church in Bradford on Avon.

But Canon O’Driscoll, 81, stresses that it’s not retirement, just a winding down to a smaller parish as he progresses towards his ninth decade.

“I am looking forward to serving the people of Bradford on Avon, although I am sad to leave Trowbridge which has been my home for the past 27 years.”

He will be succeeded by Father Tom Finnegan, who is moving from the parish of Filton in Bristol. All the parishes are part of the Catholic Diocese of Clifton.

Canon O’Driscoll says that he has been fortunate in Trowbridge to be part of a “strong” Catholic community that has been very kind and generous to him.

“I have had a wonderful life here. We have a lovely community and I have been blessed to be chaplain to the two schools: St Augustine’s Catholic College and St John’s Primary School.”

Canon O’Driscoll was ordained at Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick in March 1967 and came to Trowbridge in 1990 via Amesbury, Stroud and West Swindon.

Since arriving in Trowbridge, he has initiated the extension of St John the Baptist Church to house new facilities and a larger congregation.

He also oversaw the building of a new parish house and the conversion of the former St John’s Infant School to form the St John’s Conference Centre in Wingfield Road.

His parishioners celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest with a special service attended by 500 people, including four bishops and 40 priests.