The Sid Valley has welcomed a new female curate, Reverend Sarah Mounoury, who was ordained last Saturday in Exeter Cathedral and will be serving in Woolbrook, Sidford and Sidbury.

Sarah was among the first new ministers in England who made their oaths of allegiance to King Charles III.

It was while she was away on a retreat conference at Lee Abbey in North Devon that the sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced.

Sarah said: “We spent an anxious few hours wondering if the ordination would go ahead during this time of mourning, but the Bishop of Exeter was convinced that the late Queen would not want us to delay starting our ministry.”

Sarah was ordained alongside 14 other men and women who will also begin their curacies this month in the Diocese of Exeter.

Sarah has completed two years’ study at St Mellitus College in Plymouth and is excited to continue her training in her new post where she will work alongside Reverend Laura Selman in the north of the Sid Valley.

Sarah said “My family and I have so appreciated the incredibly warm welcome from the people in our new communities and I’m really looking forward to learning more about them and their stories as I get more involved in life here.”

She hopes that people will stop and say 'hello' if you see her out and about getting used to her new clerical collar.