THE Rev Beverley Lock was welcomed as the new vicar of St Mary’s Parish Church, Ambleside, and Team Rector of the Loughrigg Team at a packed induction service led by the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome.

Mrs Lock has been licensed as a lay minister (Reader) in the Diocese since 1988, eventually leading to her ordination in 2004.

She is a familiar face to many local congregations including St Thomas, Kendal, and St George, Kendal, having led services as a Reader or helped out as a minister. Her background is in teaching both adults and young people in English, drama and RE, and she also has an MA in applied theology.

She and her husband Brian have been married for 32 years and the couple have two grown-up sons.

Bishop James urged the congregation to realise that Christian faith rests on historical facts and not myth, and children from Ambleside Primary School sang, prayed and led the way out at the end singing “You shall go out with joy” accompanied by piano, tambourines and Brian Lock on saxophone. A reception was held afterwards in the Parish Centre.

The Loughrigg Team comprises St Mary’s, Holy Trinity, Langdale and Holy Trinity, Brathay, its new Team Rector enjoys walking, music, creative projects and growing things. Among the congregation at her licensing service were members of her former parishes of St Michael’s, Shap, and All Saints Church, Orton.