COMING from a country which boasts some of the world's most breathtaking scenery, nobody could have blamed the Rev John Vischer had he decided to return to his native Switzerland to work.

But Haddington has been too much of a draw for the 45-year-old - who in the coming weeks will begin preparing to take over as the new minister at the town's West Church, linked with Garvald and Morham.

Mr Vischer was born and educated in Switzerland, but having married a Scot (wife Elizabeth, 39) he moved to this country in 2005 to take up a post at Saddell and Carradale linked with Skipness in Kintyre.

And though that part of the world is also renowned for its natural beauty, the father-of-four felt recently that it was time to move to pastures new.

He could either move back to Switzerland or remain in his adopted homeland.

But his mind was made up after he had spotted an advert for the Haddington position in a Church of Scotland magazine.

And after receiving 167 votes in his favour and just three against following two 'auditions' to his prospective congregations on Sunday, Mr Vischer has confirmed his acceptance of the post.

His name will now be put forward to Presbytery of Lothian for approval; all going well, he should take up his new role within the next few months.

He told the Courier: "We are very much looking forward to the move - especially since meeting the church at Haddington West and also at Garvald and Morham on Sunday.

"The welcome was very positive and very warm, and really there was just a genuine feeling in the church of goodwill and excitement.

"We were blown over by the reception that we got.

"My own personal emphasis is teaching and preaching - it gives a sense of fact that the Christian faith has a lot to offer. At the moment it gets a bad press in many ways and it doesn't really deserve it at all - quite the opposite." Mr Vischer - whose children Megan, 11, Jenny, eight, Lizzie, seven, and Finlay, three, are all looking forward to moving to Haddington - has had to learn to adjust to a slightly different way of working in Scotland.

He added: "It's an experience I've enjoyed. The Presbyterian system is a bit different from what I was used to back in Switzerland.

"And I love the Scots - I love to live among them. I also love living by the seaside. Coming from Switzerland that's a bit of a novelty!" Mr Vischer, whose mother's family are Scottish, is set to fill the role left vacant when former West Church minister, the Rev. Cammy MacKenzie, left to work in Edinburgh last May.