JOAN Matthews is looking forward to making her home in Newton after being appointed priest in charge of both St Peter's Church, Newton in Makerfield, and Earlestown St John.

The Reverend Canon, area dean of Toxteth and Wavertree in Liverpool, will be licensed by the Bishop of Warrington on July 18.

The 53-year-old, who has lived and worked in Liverpool all her life apart from a brief stint in Ormskirk, is currently rector of St Mary's in Wavertree, where she has been incumbent since l997.

She says she is excited by the challenge of coming to a new area.

She said: "I don't actually know Newton that well. I will be a town rector designated to work with and help pull the four churches - St Peter's, St John's, Wargrave Emmanuel and All Saint's - together.

"It won't happen overnight but I am very much looking forward to it."

The mother-of-three will be moving to the town with her husband, Chris.

She added: "We are looking forward to making our home in Newton."

Mrs Matthews' licensing service will be at St Peter's Church, on Market Street, at 7.30pm on Tuesday, July l8.

It will be attended by the Bishop of Warrington, Rt Reverend David Jennings, and the Archdeacon of Warrington, Peter Bradley.

The following Sunday there will be a service of welcome at St John's, at 3.30pm.