MEET Gavin Knight, a thoroughly modern vicar.

The 46-year-old has just been appointed minister at St Michael and All Angels in Summertown and will reconnect with his flock by using the sermon... as well as social media.

As a former media research analyst with world famous ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi, he should know how to reach a wide audience.

Twitter and Facebook will feature in his “open door” ministry at the church in Lonsdale Road.

He said: “I think it is important the Church makes use of most modern forms of communication.

“I will be posting advice and material to help people practise their faith at home.

“I plan to stay here for quite a long time, but I want to get all this up and running in the next few months.

“I think there is a great deal of enthusiasm and interest and I intend to make the most of it.

At the moment, about 70 people attend services, but he hopes more will be encouraged to come along.

He added: “I think it can be quite a fearful experience coming through the doors of a church.

“I would like to allow newcomers to be welcome.”

When Mr Knight worked for Saatchi and Saatchi his job was to compile a database on people’s viewing habits.

At the time, the agency’s clients included the Conservative Party, British Airways and Castlemaine XXXX beer.

Mr Knight, who is married with three children, was ordained in 1998 after leaving his high-flying job at Saatchi and Saatchi.

He said: “I worked in the same office as the Saatchi brothers.

“It was a big step, I suppose, but there was something missing from my life and I wanted to explore what that hollowness was.

“After years of searching it turned out to be a calling by God.

“Both jobs are interested in communication and appealing to a wide range of people.

“When I was young I wanted to be a golfer or a journalist, but not a priest.

“My colleagues used to call me a God-botherer. They could not really understand, but I think in their quieter moments it might have made sense.”

Before coming to Oxford Mr Knight, who is originally from Aldershot, was a school chaplain in South Wales for six years, but wanted to return to life as a parish priest because he missed being part of a community.

He has also been a priest in Solihull and Fulham, where he began his vocation after six years training.

His service of initiation, which was conducted by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, earlier this month, was attended by 200 people.

Parishioner Steve Hunter, 57, of Lonsdale Road, said: “We are all looking forward to where he is going to be leading us.

“I am supportive of any new initiative that the vicar comes up with. We probably need to get a bit more up to date.”