New vicar who’s getting parishioners hot under the collar
IN the TV hit Fleabag, the lead character falls in love with her ‘hot priest’.
And now a real- life vicar is setting hearts beating among women parishioners after his appointment was announced on social media.
Hundreds posted saucy comments describing The Reverend Dr Matt Davis, 36, as ‘gorgeous’ and ‘fit’ when his picture and a short biography appeared on Facebook.
He is due to become the vicar of St Luke’s Church in Formby, Merseyside, next week.
The announcement on the Formby Bubble, a site which keeps locals up-to-date on events in the area, prompted almost 600 comments, mainly from women.
One commentator, Rosie Brazier, wrote: ‘Forgive me Father, for I am about to sin.’
Karen Jackson joked: ‘He’s one member of the clergy I’d like to see defrocked.’
Another, Vicki Rees, added: ‘Meanwhile,
‘Ladies, prepare yourselves’
Merseyside Police have urged the public to be vigilant amid reports a pack of cougars have escaped from a local zoo.’
The term cougar is used to refer to an older woman who seduces a younger man.
Several commentators made reference to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s BBC comedy Fleabag and shared video clips of Andrew Scott’s brooding ‘hot priest’ character.
One Facebook user, Zuzanna Piskor, wrote: ‘Fleabag vibes.’ Another added: ‘Fleabag, fleabag, FLEABAG! It’s happening, ladies prepare yourself this s***s happening for real this time!’ Others joked that there would be a queue at the ‘confessional’ and the church would be ‘packed to the rafters’. Last night Dr Davis said he was ‘amazed’ at the response. ‘As a happily married family man I am not used to this kind of attention, but I know that I will be judged by how well I work as a good parish vicar.’
A local source told the Mail: ‘ Like all churches it has been struggling to get bums on pews. I’m sure there might be a few new faces in the congregation after this.’ However, anyone hoping for romance is likely to be disappointed because Dr Davis has been married to his wife, Liz, a registrar in geriatric medicine, for 13 years. The couple have two sons, James and Timothy.
The Cambridge- educated vicar has a PhD in earth sciences and specialised in earthquake research before turning to religion.
He spent part of his ministry helping Iranian
and Kurdish refugees who had fled to the UK because of religious persecution. Dr Davis said in St Luke’s church magazine it was his ‘great delight’ to be joining, adding: ‘As a family, we are really excited at moving to Formby to see what the Lord Jesus has in store for us all.’
He will be installed at a service on Tuesday. Limited numbers will be allowed in because of Covid-19, but admirers will be able to watch via a live YouTube link.