A POPULAR Aberystwyth vicar who is to leave after six years at his church has paid tribute to the “welcoming, warm and supportive” people of Penparcau.

Rev Andy Herrick, of St Anne’s Church in Penparcau and Llanychaearn Church in Rhydyfelin, has been asked by Bishop Wyn of St Davids Diocese in the Church in Wales to move to St Peter’s Church in Lampeter because the parish has been without a vicar for over 16 months.

After serving in St Michael’s Church in Aberystwyth for 10 years, Rev Herrick, 56, moved to Penparcau in 2009 and expressed his sadness at having to leave a church he had planned to retire at.

“I absolutely love Penparcau,” he told the Cambrian News this week.

“I think it is much-maligned and it shouldn’t be really — I find the people really down to earth, straight forward, honest, good people — Penparcau is a great community.”