A NEW chapter has begun in the 800-year history of University Church of St Mary the Virgin with the welcoming of a new vicar.

More than 300 people comprised of civic representatives, Oxford University guests and clergymen from more than 70 churches across the UK packed into the famous old church in High Street as Reverend Dr Will Lamb was made the new vicar.

At the ceremony last week, the Bishop of Oxford the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft officially installed Revd Dr Lamb - who has come from Cambridge where he was Vice-Principal of Westcott House, a theological college for Church of England priests.

Watched by the heads of Merton and Oriel Colleges and many eminent members of the Church of England, he was presented with an ancient parish key as a symbol of his new responsibilities.

Churchwarden Sarah Mortimer, who handed over the key, said: "The University Church has such a rich history and special place within Oxford - both as a city and as a university.

"It was really nice to see the Vice-chancellor there as the church because of that connection with the University.

She added: "Because there hasn't been a new vicar for such a long time the ceremony felt more special and historic and of course the church has had a number of famous vicars including John Henry Newman.

"We are really excited to have Will join us for this new chapter in St Mary's history."

The previous vicar, the Rev Canon Brian Mountford, retired in April last year after more than 30 years at the helm.

He oversaw a major redevelopment of the church in his time and was made an MBE in 2015 for services to ecclesiastical heritage.

Revd Dr Lamb said he was looking forward to taking over the mantle and getting to know the congregation and residents in the city as well as developing the church's ideologies.

He said: "I am delighted to be joining the University Church and I hope that the Church continues to flourish as a centre of theological exploration, thoughtful preaching and radical hospitality."

He also said he worshipped at St Mary's while studying at Balliol College, Oxford.

A church has existed on the site for thousands of years but in the early 13th century the University began to use it as the church as a meeting place.

The University moved its lectures from the building in 1420 but the church has continued to hold major events within the university as well as for the city's residents ever since.