Smiling Meg Kirby is getting accustomed to a new life as associate priest in the parish of Calne and Blacklands.

Mrs Kirby, who moved to Calne from Portsmouth with her husband Chris last month, was welcomed by the bishop of Ramsbury, Archdeacon John Wraw, and the vicar, the Rev Bob Kenway, last week.

“I had a really nice welcome,” said Mrs Kirby, a mother of one. “I really like it here already. I have found the area to be absolutely lovely and Calne is a pretty little town.”

Mrs Kirby was ordained at Portsmouth Cathedral in 2006 when she was in her late 40s.

“I came to the ministry late in life, but it is a wonderful privilege. It was not until 2001 when I moved to the Portsmouth area and I was having a conversation with my parish priest that I thought about it,” she said.

“She suggested it to me and I said I was too old, but she told me I was not too old for a non-stipendiary position. That was how the ball started to roll.”

While working as the assistant curate at St Cuthbert’s in Portsmouth, Mrs Kirby led a puppetry troupe for youngsters and is sure the puppets will be making an appearance in Calne.

“I am sure that at some point I will be getting involved with schools and things and I’m sure the puppets will be coming out, but nothing is certain yet.”

Mrs Kirby is on a five- year contract with the parish, which is made up of St Mary the Virgin in Church Street, Holy Trinity in Quemerford and St Peter’s, Blackland.