A NEW vicar will be joining worshippers in Ronkswood in the new year.

The Rev Fran Binding will be succeeding the Rev Janet House who retired in April from the Holy Trinity and St Matthew's Church.

She currently works in Bromyard for the parish's six churches where she has been stationed for the past four years.

And the former head of music at Bridgnorth Endowed School, where she taught for 18 years, says she is excited at the prospect of starting her new role.

Fran and her daughter Rosie, who is in her final year at college in Hereford, added they are both looking forward to the move and hope to get to know the community very soon.

She said: "I have been visiting Worcester for over 20 years. I'm not going to plan on anything yet until I meet the people and find out what they want at their church.

"I used to teach music and it's important to me. I also have an enthusiasm for my faith and am looking forward to sharing it with the people of Ronkswood".

Fran, aged 48, trained to work for the church while she was a teacher.

"Initially I wanted to do both but I soon realised I had to do one or the other. I felt called to do church work," she added.

She will be taking up her role in February after moving from Bromyard to the area in the new year.

The previous vicar slept on the roof in June 2002 to raise much-needed money towards repair costs of more than £30,000. The work was carried out in 2004.

And in 2003 the church suffered at the hands of vandals who smashed 12 of the windows, leading to calls to residents to keep an eye out on the building. The distinctive building, known locally as the drum because of its shape, was consecrated in 1965. It costs £40,000 to replace the large hut which had served as the church in Ronkswood since the 1950s.