THE new vicar of St Peter s Church in St Albans is The Reverend Canon Anne Hollinghurst. Since 2005 she has been a residentiary Canon of Manchester Cathedral and also Chaplain to the Bishop of Manchester. Before that, she held appointments at Derby Cathed

THE new vicar of St Peter's Church in St Albans is The Reverend Canon Anne Hollinghurst.

Since 2005 she has been a residentiary Canon of Manchester Cathedral and also Chaplain to the Bishop of Manchester. Before that, she held appointments at Derby Cathedral and the University of Derby and a curacy at St Saviour's, Nottingham.

Anne said: "I am looking forward very much to serving the various congregations of St Peter's and the wider parish. St Peter's has so much to offer, not least through its strong choral and musical tradition but also through the quality and commitment of its lay ministry. It has a key role to play within St Albans and within the diocese and it will be very good to be part of developing that."

The date of her institution at St Peter's has not yet been fixed but it is expected to be shortly after Christmas.

Anne has a wealth of experience in pastoral matters, bereavement counselling, church youth work and of course preaching and the conduct of service at a busy cathedral. She has also been heavily involved in diocesan and cathedral strategy, planning and administration.

Anne is married to Steve Hollinghurst who is also an ordained priest currently working as a full-time researcher in Christianity and contemporary culture.

The previous incumbent, the Reverend David Brentnall, left the church suddenly around a year ago under unexplained circumstances.