FORMER Crown Prosecutor Rev Matthew Bradbury has forsaken his career in the courtroom for a new life in the Church of England. Rev Bradbury – who has dealt with some of the most serious crimes in the county, including gory murders – has now taken up his f

FORMER Crown Prosecutor Rev Matthew Bradbury has forsaken his career in the courtroom for a new life in the Church of England.

Rev Bradbury - who has dealt with some of the most serious crimes in the county, including gory murders - has now taken up his first full time post within the Church, as the new Vicar of a group of parishes to the south west of Wisbech.

He was inducted by The Bishop of Ely at a special service at Wisbech St Mary on Thursday, and is looking forward to his new life.

"During my 30-year career in the law I had the privilege, as a magistrates' clerk and as a Crown Prosecutor, to work on some very difficult and interesting cases," he said.

"I have worked with fine lawyers, magistrates and police officers, and am going to miss the professional camaraderie and their intense work ethic.

"What I won't miss is the personal and professional pressure of dealing with public law; it is an extremely challenging and pressurised job of work."

Over his long career in the law, Rev Bradbury often appeared in the magistrates' court, he obtained higher court rites that allowed him to appear before a judge in the Crown Court, and had recently moved into management.

"People might think the two careers are chalk and cheese," he said, "but there are similarities.

"Being a Vicar is a public office, and my first act was to take an oath of allegiance to the Bishop and the Queen. As a priest I administer Canon Law, rather than criminal law.

"Another similarity, is that as a priest I am dealing with people at the significant moments in their lives.

"As a prosecutor I dealt with the grim face of crime, it is a refreshing change to be in a job where I can be nice to people all the time, rather than administer the cold edged sword of the law, which I always tried to do humanely.

"Now I am in a position to be more tender with people, to spend time finding out about their personal lives and help with their spiritual journey."

Rev Bradbury is the new Anglican minister to the congregations of three churches, St Mary, St Paul, and Emmanual, which serve the benefices of Wisbech St Mary and Guyhirn with Rings End; Gorefield; and Southea with Murrow and Parson Drove.

Rev Bradbury and his wife Sarah have recently moved into the Vicarage at Wisbech St Mary from Sutton-in-the-Isle, with their sons James and Christopher.

Since his ordination, Rev Bradbury served as a non-stipendiary assistant minister in Sutton, and then at Haddenham and Wilburton.

The couple originate from London, and came to rural Cambridgeshire more than 20 years ago, from Sittingbourne in Kent.