The Bishop of Coventry has thanked an outgoing Kenilworth vicar for serving her congregation "wonderfully".

Reverend Stella Bailey will leave St Nicholas Church after five and a half years this week to take up a new position as Archdeacon of the Gwent Valleys and Director of Mission.

Rev Bailey, who has also served as Area Dean of Kenilworth for the past four years, had her farewell service at the Abbey Fields church at the start of June.

She will be installed as an Archdeacon at Newport Cathedral, in the Diocese of Monmouth, on 19 June at 4pm - the service will be streamed at St Nicholas' for local people to watch.

The Bishop of Coventry Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth said: "Stella is one of our own and has served the people of Coventry Diocese wonderfully in a range of different settings and ministries.

"It's hard handing her over to another church but we do so rejoicing in all that Stella has given to our life together and in all that she will bring to the Church of Wales and to the Diocese of Monmouth."

Revd Bailey has also served in many roles in Kenilworth including trustee of various charities; the chair of governors at two primary schools; member of the Diocese Synod and Bishops' Council; Chair of the DAC and member of the Church of England's General Synod.

She said: "Coventry will always be dear to my heart. It is the diocese that nurtured my faith as a teenager and the cathedral where I was ordained.

"There are so many people who have help nurture my vocation and who have supported me in my ministry to shape me into the priest I am today. Thank you for the support and love as we have shared in the mission of God, bring the good news to the people of this diocese."

(Header image by Motacilla via wikimedia commons)