A new vicar who takes over the pulpit from several long-standing predecessors says he is “excited and a little nervous” about the job ahead of him.

Gregory Platten became just the fifth vicar in 140 years to be inducted at Friern Barnet All Saints’ Church during a special ceremony on Friday evening.

The 35-year-old recently moved to the vicarage at the Oakleigh Road North church with his wife Gillian, who is expecting the couple’s second child, and their two-year-old son Max.

The post will be Reverend Platten’s first as a vicar, having previously served as a curate at St John’s Wood Church and a chaplain at Oxford University.

And following his first service on Sunday, the new leader of the church, which dates back to 1882, said he is looking forward to getting stuck in to the role.

He said: “I’m hugely excited. I was really surprised when I was appointed, happy, and a little daunted too.

“It is a whole new way of doing things and a new community of people I have come to serve.”

The Oxford theology graduate takes over from Adrian Benjamin, who stepped down earlier this year after 38 years as a clergyman at the church.

Members of the congregation have already joked that Rev Platten will be in for the long term following the lengthy appointments of his predecessors, but the vicar says he is not daunted by the prospect.

He said: “It could be seen as many years to foster the vision we have for the church here. It is not my personal project - we are all working to build on what Adrian Benjamin has done for the way the church integrates with the community.”

By taking on the role, Rev Platten is following in the footsteps of his father, Stephen Platten, who currently serves as the Bishop of Wakefield, in Yorkshire.

And he says he hopes to emulate his father’s success and branch out to the Friern Barnet community to encourage more people to join the congregation.

He said: “I’ll be working over the next month or two to find my feet and do a lot of listening to really get to know the place and the people.

“I think a lot of people are put off Christianity because they see it as a faith making demands before you’ve got through the door. But my message is, don’t knock it until you have tried it – you’ll be warmly welcomed.”