Oswestry's Christ Church has welcomed a new minister.

The Reverend Carole Marsden is originally from Burnley, Lancashire. She studied at Keele and Manchester Universities reading Classics/Music and then Theology, and was ordained in 2001.

She has ministered in Stockport and most recently in the south lakes area in Cumbria.

Her journey to Shropshire began last Easter when she felt that her role in Cumbria was drawing to a close. After looking at a number of places she found she was drawn to the setting of Shrewsbury and Oswestry.

Her new role will be shared between the United Reformed Church church in Shrewsbury and Oswestry's Christ Church URC/Presbyterian Church of Wales, and she has be moved to the area with her husband Rob and daughters Hannah, eight, and Eleanor, six.

Rev Marsden elaborated: “The people seemed warm and inviting with challenges and joys facing the churches. I was struck by the amount of community work and service the churches are involved in from food banks to childrens work, charities and interest groups”.

She was appointed officially in January 2018 and is looking forward to getting to know the area and the members of the church along with the local community.

She added: “Everyone has been very welcoming and friendly. I am interested in history and with so many interesting places around we're looking forward to visiting them along with exploring some local walks.”