WHEN leather-jacketed Father John Salter roared into his new parish in 1993 on the back of his Suzuki GS125, he rang the church bell 25 times to announce his arrival to the town.

But those gongs also indicated how many years he pledged to serve his new flock.

Now, Father John – affectionately known for miles around as the ‘motorbike Vicar’ – has been true to his word: on Sunday, after quarter of a century in the Wantage parish, he held his last ever service.

Joined by his faithful flock in St Peter and Paul church, the 67-year-old had a chance to reflect on the life of a vicar, and the changing face of the Church of England, and to thank – and be thanked – for 25 years of memories.

Oxford Mail:

Among those paying tribute this weekend was Bishop of Dorchester, The Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, who thanked Father John for his ‘superb work’ as a parish priest.

He went on: “Father John’s ministry has been characterised by a deep involvement both in the town and the deanery.

“Whenever someone has needed him, he has made the time to be with them, and he has never failed to respond to the needs of people all around him.”

When Father John rolled into Wantage all those years ago he was fresh from the mean streets of Birmingham, where he had been attacked by a man with a knife and narrowly dodged a glass bottle hurled at his head.

Luckily he had joined the local biking chapter, who had his back in sticky situations.

Birmingham itself had been a change from Tottenham where his church was under a block of flats, opposite a bar where his flock flocked after each service.

Neither of his first two churches dented the staunch faith which he then brought to Wantage.

He summarises his faith in the ‘affirmation of creation’ that ‘all things are good’.

In Wantage, this has meant some joyful noise: parties in the pews, live music and now, fried breakfasts every Monday morning.

All of it, he says, has been an effort to ‘make Christ present’ in the lives of the community he serves.

In January, he celebrated his 25 years at a party with his wife Karen, daughter Rachel and son Jeremy.

Speaking then he said: “It was good to rejoice in the riches of these 25 years. Thank you for all you have been and the more you have given me by your prayers and support.”

The Bishop added: “I find it difficult to conceive of Wantage without him.”

The Oxford Diocese will advertise for a new vicar