A NEW vicar has been appointed for Pucklechurch and its surrounding villages.
Canon Elaine Jones has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of Pucklechurch and Abson, Wick with Doynton and Dyrham, the Diocese of Bristol announced in November.
Rev Jones will take charge at St Thomas a Becket Church next February, more than two years after the retirement of Rev Stuart Young.
Elaine and her family originate from Bootle on Merseyside and before she was ordained she studied occupational psychology and worked as a social researcher carrying out consultation on behalf of local authorities.
Ordained in 2010 in Liverpool Cathedral, Elaine has been a minister in the city’s Toxteth and Wavertree parishes for the past seven years, as area dean.
She is also the Diocese of Liverpool “healing advisor”, with a focus on “churches becoming healing communities”.
Bishop of Bristol the Rt Rev Vivienne Faul said: “As a Liverpool ordinand myself and knowing that it is almost the best diocese in the Church of England, I’m delighted to welcome Elaine to the Diocese of Bristol with her wealth of knowledge from her work in Liverpool.
“Her ministry as healing advisor in Liverpool has focussed on building resilience and community healing.
“Coupled with her previous career as a local authority social researcher, Elaine will bring significant skills to the diocese to help us better support our communities.”
Elaine said: “The warm welcome I received from the parish representatives of Pucklechurch, Abson, Wick, Doynton and Dyrham has really helped as my husband Rob and I prepare for our move to the Diocese of Bristol.
“It was encouraging to hear and see the many connections the churches have in the parishes – not least through the schools, summer and autumn fetes, the village market and Dyrham House and Park.
“We value all the prayers that have brought us this far and pray it will be a season of blessings for the churches and parishes as we to join you.”