A PRIEST who helped raise more than £600,000 to restore and preserve five medieval churches in her care is to become the new vicar of three Cambridgeshire villages. Rev Annette Reed, who was ordained in 1987 – the first year women were ordained as pries

A PRIEST who helped raise more than £600,000 to restore and preserve five medieval churches in her care is to become the new vicar of three Cambridgeshire villages.

Rev Annette Reed, who was ordained in 1987 - the first year women were ordained as priests in the Church of England - will be serving Great Paxton, Little Paxton and Diddington.

She will be ordained at a special service, conducted by the Bishop of Ely, Dr Anthony Russell, on October 18 at the Holy Trinity Minister Church in Great Paxton at 7.30pm.

Annette, who has two children, Michael, 22, and Adele, 18, said: "I am really looking forward to moving into the community in the three villages. I am also very grateful for the welcome I have received on a number of visits I have made to the area and how freely people have given of their time to make me feel welcome."

Annette, who is said to love all things to do with the countryside, has for the past eight years been a team vicar in Sheepy Magna, Leicestershire, where she looked after five churches.

While in Sheepy Magna, she also opened a post office in one of her churches and was a finalist in the 2006 Leicestershire Woman in the Community Award for having raised more than £600,000 to help restore and preserve five medieval churches.

Ken Bowles, a churchwarden at St James' Church, Little Paxton, said: "The people of St James' Church are very much looking forward to facing the challenges of the future under the guidance of Annette.

"We are sure these will be met with a sense of humour and friendship as well as with sensitivity and strength of purpose. Annette's arrival as Vicar will add a dimension to the village.