Ashley’s new vicar has thanked parishioners for the warm welcome given to him at the start of his time in the village.
Reverend Prebendary Jonathan Eades was inducted as the new priest-in-charge at a special service last week.
Almost 300 people gathered inside Ashley’s St John the Baptist Church to attend the service which was conducted by the Bishop of Stafford, the Right Reverend Gordon Mursell.
Mr Eades, who is 57 and unmarried, will also be responsible for churches in the neighbouring villages of Broughton, Croxton and Mucklestone.
“It has been enjoyable so far and I am beginning to get to know people and the differences between the four villages,” he said.
“I have done a few visits and I am preparing for a couple of funerals.
“I find people very welcoming, encouraging and affirming and there has been great Christian generosity.”
Mr Eades was ordained in 1977 and spent 11 years in Scotland before moving to Staffordshire to serve as a rural dean.
Before his move to Ashley, he served as team vicar for a group of churches in Wolstanton, near Newcastle Under Lyme.
“It was an urban, residential parish of about 20,000 people so Ashley is quite a contrast,” Mr Eades said.
“Each of the parishes here have different needs and they are at different stages in their development.
“I am hoping to build upon the work of my two predecessors, John Williams and Martin Walker.”
Ashley had been without a priest-in-charge for 10 months following the retirement of Mr Williams last September after more than 11 years at St John’s.
Mr Walker had spent around nine years in Broughton and Croxton before leaving last August.
One of the highlights of the induction service was the coming together of choirs from all four churches to sing the Samuel Wesley hymn, Lead Me Lord.
In his address, the Bishop of Stafford praised the unique identity of each church and urged them to seek a vision of the future together.
“The music and the singing was excellent and there was a good get-together afterwards in the Chapter House,” Mr Eades said.
