A POPULAR Salvation Army preacher is leaving Hadleigh to take up a new challenge in London.

Major Noel Wright, 53, will finish his three-year leadership of Hadleigh Temple Corps at the end of July.

He has been appointed to head up the church growth team at the Salvation Army's national headquarters in London.

He said: "I am sad to leave Hadleigh.

"It's a good place with lovely people.

"There is so much more work that I had planned to do, so I would have liked to stay for a couple more years at least.

"But in the Salvation Army, officers understand that they can be given another appointment at any time and I am happy to obey the request for me to move.

"I have previously worked in the church growth department, so I know what the new job is about.

"I am excited by the prospect of heading up the department this time and looking forward to the challenges the job will bring and to meeting so many people as I travel throughout the UK."

Major Wright's wife, Major Marion Wright who retired last year, and their son Richard will be moving to their new home in south London at the end of the month.

A spokesman for Hadleigh Temple Corps said: "Major Wright's appointment has come as an untimely surprise. He is gifted with a lot of wisdom and insight and is an exceptional Bible teacher.

"Our fellowship has built up a lot in the last three years under his leadership and we have grown to love him.

"Losing him will be a wrench.

"However, we trust in God that it is for the greater good, as his exceptional gifts will be available to a much wider audience.

"We look forward to welcoming our new leaders and developing The Salvation Army's work and witness in Hadleigh."

Replacing Major Wright are married couple Majors Stuart and Gillian Dicker, who have been in Salvation Army ministry since 1980.

They are based in Eastbourne.

The public welcome to Major and Mrs Dicker is at Hadleigh Temple, London Road, Hadleigh on Sunday 10 August at 10 am.

Major Wright's farewell service, which is also open to the public, is at Hadleigh Temple at 6pm on Sunday 20 July.

That day the congregation will bid farewell to another leader.

Envoy Heather Sheldon has been a member of Hadleigh fellowship while working as chaplain of Hadleigh Employment Training Centre but she will leave to take up her new appointment as leader of The Salvation Army corps in Basildon.