BISHOP Jonathan has appointed the Rev Shirley Pearce to be the new interim priest-in-charge of Wroxall, Arreton and Newchurch.

She is likely to start her role there in January, subject to DBS, moving from her current post as assistant priest at a group of rural churches in the Sussex Downs.

Shirley was born in South Africa, spending her childhood in Cape Town and Benoni, a small gold-mining town outside Johannesburg.

She married Douglas in 1981, and they lived for a few years in Randburg, then moved back to Cape Town, arriving in the UK in 2002. Their two children are married and they have one grandson, with another on the way.

Shirley had a long and varied career as a nurse, much of it in nursing management in the later years. And she was “astounded” to be called by God into ordained ministry.

She had become a Christian at the age of 10. And because of her various moves from province to province, and then to a new country, she had a varied experience of church: she has been part of the Methodist, United Presbyterian and Congregational, Free Church, and the Anglican Church of South Africa. She is now firmly part of the Church of England.

She said: “I attended St Mellitus College, based in Chelmsford for my ordination training, served my curacy in Basildon, and moved to the rural benefice of Alciston, Arlington, Berwick, Selmeston and Wilmington in 2021.

“My life in ministry is a joyful walk with my Saviour, hard and challenging as it can sometimes be.

“I am so very happy to be moving to ministry in the Isle of Wight; we have visited often, it’s allure only becoming stronger over the years.

“The root of my calling is to be in community, in everyday tasks, joining in charitable activities, sharing the laughter, the highs and lows of island life, and of course, the cake and tea – a lot of tea.

“The churches in which I will serve will have my dedication in their outreach to schools and the wider community, and will, I pray see the love and joy of God in our worship together.”

She is expected to be licensed to her new role on Tuesday 26th January at 6pm.