A SURPRISE party for a Chard priest was thrown by parishioners to mark his one-year anniversary last week.

Father Jeff Williams and his wife, Mary, were pleasantly surprised when parishioners from The Good Shepherd Church in Furnham Road presented a special cake, with a photo of the couple on the top, and a buffet for the pair on Sunday to mark the occasion.

Churchgoer Hilary Cumming, said: β€œIt was a token of thanks from all the congregation for all the hard work and dedication Father and Mary have put into the parish during the past year.”