New vicar settles in

1:52pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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The first woman vicar of Box has been settling into village life following a Valentine's Day dedication service.

Janet Anderson-MacKenzie moved into the Vicarage with husband Ian and daughters Iona, seven, and Elspeth, four, after taking up the post of priest in charge of Box with Ditteridge and Hazelbury.

She has been overwhelmed by the kindness of villagers and said she has been made to feel welcome.

The day after a welcome service in St Thomas a Becket Church, Dr Anderson-MacKenzie took a special assembly at Box CofE School, which her daughters now attend.

Dr Anderson-MacKenzie, 37, who took a doctorate at Bristol University, began training for the priesthood in 2001.

In 2004, she was ordained as deacon and took up her first post in Woolavington near Bridgwater in Somerset. She went on to work in nearby churches before obtaining her new job, a position which has been vacant for some months.

She said: "It's a part time role here, which will be challenging. I've got my daughters to look after and no doubt I will become involved in activities related to them, such as Brownies.

"It's been great so far. I've done two services. After my arrival there was a memorial service for Mrs Porter, which Canon John Ayers took because he knew her.

"There's a lot of support here. I'm heading up a really good team which includes Canon Ayers, licensed lay minister Phil Daniels and the church wardens."

Dr Anderson-MacKenzie has written a Master's thesis on the common search for meaning in club culture and alternative worship.

Dr Anderson-MacKenzie whose husband is an actuary, said she had not encountered any problems due to her being a woman vicar.

Another female member of the clergy has also just taken over at Box Methodist Church.

The Rev John Emmett has left to take up a post at Wesley College in Bristol.

His replacement is Dr Angela Shier-Jones.