CHURCH of England parishes across Redditch will be welcoming a new face.

The Rev Tricia Allsop, vicar of St Godwold's Church in Finstall, has been appointed as the rural dean for the Bromsgrove deanery.

The appointment is for three years, covering 12 parishes in Redditch and Bromsgrove.

Mrs Allsop will be the deanery's first female rural dean.

Her role includes the organisation of the deanery and pastoral care for clergy in the area.