A CLERIC from Farnworth has been appointed to the highest position in the Methodist Church.

Revd Loraine Mellor was elected president of the Methodist Conference, the church’s supreme governing body, at its annual conference.

Ms Mellor, who worshipped at Little Lever and Cawdor Street Methodist churches, has been a presbyter since 1995 and is also chair of the Nottingham and Derby District.

She is a member of the Church’s strategy and resources committee and also coordinator of the Larger than Circuit group.

Ms Mellor said: “I want to encourage and enable the Church to put God back on the agenda in our communities and enthuse people to share the Good News.

"The Church has reached a tipping point, the time has come for us to take some risks in our mission and in our discipleship in order to help us grow.”

She succeeds the Revd Dr Roger Walton.