'Vicar of Dibley' takes over

12:18pm Sunday 12th August 2007

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AN ATHERTON-born "Vicar of Dibley" is to take charge at the Chowbent Unitarian Chapel for the first time in its 300-year history.

The Rev Brenda Catherall, who will move back into her Weston Street home, will become the chapel's first woman minister in October.

It was a similar story when she took up her first position with the Unitarians at Monton, Eccles, 15 years ago. and at Bolton's Bank Street Unitarian Church two and a half years ago.

Mrs Catherall trained for the ministry after working as a journalist on the Bolton and Leigh Journals in the 1970s and 1980s.

She has a 22 years-old daughter, Sophie, a science technician at Fred Longworth High School, Tyldesley.

Brenda said: "I am delighted to be coming back home to minister in the town where I was brought up."

She succeeds the Rev Peter Hughes who has retired to Cyprus after 17 years at the church.