A NEW team rector has been appointed to take charge of the Westhoughton group of churches.

The Rev Averyl Bradbrook, currently priest in charge of St Stephen's, Elton, Bury, will take up the post in February next year.

Rev Bradbrook is married with three grown up children and will live in the Wingates vicarage until a new rectory can be built.

Her arrival comes over a year after the previous rector, the Rev Simon Tatton-Brown left to take up a new position in Chippenham, Wiltshire.