A QUARTER peal of bells rang out over Shipston-on-Stour to welcome its new Rector, reverend Sarah Edmonds.

She was installed as Rector of the Shipston Benefice, the churches of St. Edmund’s with Tidmington, All Saints and St. James the Great at a service in St. Edmund’s church led by the Bishop of Coventry, the right reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth and the area dean of Shipston, reverend canon Dr. Jill Tucker.

The service was attended by 20 clergy from Shipston and the surrounding area, many of whom had assisted with taking services in the benefice since the departure of the previous rector, reverend Andrew Coleby, last December.

The mayor of Shipston, Cllr. Dan Scobie, and other prominent members of the Shipston community were also present, as well as the congregations of the four churches in the benefice.

Revd. Edmonds was previously associate minister of Ilmington, Tredington with Darlingscott, Stretton-on-Fosse, Preston-on-Stour and Whitchurch, and has moved to Shipston from Tredington.

Revd. Edmonds said “I am thrilled to be taking on the challenge of ministry in Shipston and the surrounding villages and look forward to getting to know the various communities as quickly as possible.”