Burton Latimer parish church was filled to capacity when the Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Rev Douglas Feaver, instituted the Rev Edward Pitt as rector there in succession to the Rev. Derek Hole, who moved to Leicester in May.

Also taking part in the service were the Archdeacon of Oakham ( the Ven F. N. Towndrow, who performed the induction and the Rev. Cedric Whiteman, Rural Dean of Kettering. The Rev Brian Wilcox, curate of Kettering parish church, was the Bishop’s chaplain.

In his sermon Bishop Feaver reminded the congregation that God had given everybody the precious gift of time, but instead of being grateful and using it properly, people complained that they did not have enough of it.

“Immediately we say we have no time for this and for that, we inevitably end up by talking about “killing time” and the whole of life begins to look like a dreary wasteland. So never make the excuse that you haven’t got time," the Bishop said.

The congregation included a group of Mr Pitt’s former parishioners at Stoke Albany and Wilbarston, where he previously served as rector for nearly five years.

The Bishop was escorted throughout the service by the churchwardens of Burton Latimer, Mr Richard Loake and Mr Douglas Ashby.

Among the 25 robed clergy, ministers and lay readers in the procession were the Rev Frank Pearce ( Rector of Kettering ), and Mr John Kelly ( Diocesan Information Officer ).

Mr Pitt, who is 49, was ordained in 1950, and served in Africa from 1954 to 1968. He is married and has two children.