New priest-in-charge announced for town's parish church
A parish church in the heart of a county town has a new priest-in-charge, more than a year since the previous rector left.
Rev Kelvin Price has been announced as the permanent replacement for Ven Colin Williams at Ludlow's Church of St Laurence.
Mr Price, 39, has been serving as acting rector at the church since September last year but the role has now been announced to become permanent from May.
The Bishop of Hereford, Richard Frith, said: "Following an interview with representatives of the parishes, deanery and diocese, the Reverend Kelvin Price has accepted my invitation to become priest-in-charge, rector designate, of the benefice of Ludlow St Laurence and St John.
"It is hoped that Kelvin will be licensed in mid-May, following a two week break, before assuming his new role. "Meanwhile, my continued thanks to all those involved in sustaining ministry at St Laurence and St John’s."
St Laurence's, which attracts more than 65,000 visitors a year and is known as the "cathedral of the marches" for its size, has been without a permanent rector since Mr Williams left in September 2015 for a new role overseeing the Church of England’s presence in Germany and eastern Europe.
Mr Price's new role also covers being the main priest at the Church of St John on Gravel Hill.
He said it was an honour to have been asked to serve the Ludlow area.
He said: "St Laurence's is a greater church with huge potential, and St John's has fantastic opportunity to develop mission fit for the 21st century.
"No doubt there will be challenges along the way however, if the people of both parishes and the diocese fully play their part, I'm sure together we can make Ludlow an amazing town for God and the Church."
Raised in Sutton Coldfield, Mr Price studied electrical engineering and for a short while was a personal fitness instructor before joining the Army
It was during his time as a soldier, serving as a non-commissioned officer with the Royal Green Jackets, that he had his religious calling and after being accepted by the Church of England to start training for the priesthood, he studied at the University of Oxford, and successfully completed his degree of Bachelor of Theology in June 2010.
He was ordained in 2010 at Hereford Cathedral and took his place as curate in the Cleobury Mortimer Benefice.
Since 2014 Mr Price has been team vicar in the Ludlow Team Ministry with responsibility for the parishes in the Ashford’s group, as well as playing a general role.
He plans to move to Ludlow with his wife Ruth and their six children in the spring, he said.
