THE Rev Shirley Birch has been appointed house-for-duty priest of St Peter's Church,at Halfway, near Sheerness. She will be responsible for Sunday services and will work two days a week in the parish.

She will be licensed on January 31. Priest in charge, Canon Gilbert Spencer, said: "She is a retired and very active lady, a widow, who I think is going to be a very valuable asset to our team. Her appointment is significant as it is the first time we have had a resident lady priest on the Island."

Mrs Birch will live at St Peter's and is also expected to help out at Queenborough and the Abbey. Her licence is for three years initially and will then be renewable annually.

Canon Spencer said: "She has family on the Island and she was looking to be near to them. We have a house and we needed someone to join us, so it slotted together quite well."

Mrs Birch was assistant curate at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.