Parishioners were delighted to meet and welcome their new benefice curate at the Eucharist service at St. Mary's on Sunday.

Rev. Alex Grace and her daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah, have now settled into the clergy house in Lamack Vale and are getting to know the area and the many new faces and personalities within the congregations of the five churches.

Rev. Grace was hard at work on her first day as she delivered a warm and moving sermon which reflected on her own personal journey of faith and offered sound guidance on that subject to the assembled congregation.

Delicious refreshments were expertly served after the service by the highly skilled, all-male catering team, the Soupermen, when everyone had the opportunity to chat informally with the new family.

Also on Sunday, three junior members of the church choir were presented with ribbons and medals to mark their achievements in the field of vocal music.

Ella Griffiths, Bethan Griffiths and Holly Edwards have recently passed the first level of the Voice for Life, which is a recognised qualification from the Royal School of Church Music. All three young ladies have achieved the required standard in order to be awarded the Light Blue Ribbon and Medal.