THE mother of sex change vicar Rev Carol Stone has told of her gladness that her child has found happiness.

Rev Stone said this week she is ready to return to her congregation after the sex change operation that changed her into a woman.

Audrey Stone, 72, of Victoria Road, Devizes, said Rev Stone, who until three months ago was Rev Peter Stone, had been to see her since the operation and that she had found it difficult to accept her son's new appearance.

But she said: "I am glad that he has found the happiness he is looking for.''

Rev Stone, 46, who grew up in Devizes, held a press conference at the Old Town home of the Bishop of Swindon on Tuesday. She said: "It was a huge mountain to climb to come here. It is quite a special moment for me because it is almost too wonderful to imagine I am sitting here as Carol talking to you now."

She added: "I am thrilled to be me. Before there was a pool, a deep pool of suffering. Now I feel that whole part of my life is finished with."

Asked whether she thought about meeting anyone else, she said: "I got a letter from a stranger which said they hoped I would meet a really rich man and settle down to be a devoted wife. That is not my aim, but you never know."

Twice-married Rev Stone, who has an 18-year-old daughter, said she had received the backing of the Bishop of Bristol, the Rev Barry Rogerson, and the blessing of her congregation and family.

"My mother only wants my happiness. Obviously she was concerned about the pain and the suffering I have been through but also because of the operation. But at the end of the day, what does any mother want for her children? She wants them to be happy and successful. My two brothers are also supporting me."

On Sunday Rev Stone will return to the parish at Upper Stratton, Swindon, where she says her life belongs.

"After the excitement and novelty I will get back to the bread and butter work of being a parish priest," she said.

"I have a wonderful congregation. They are full of life, encouragement and humour. I am grateful and nothing was taken for granted but they are just a lovely set of people.

"Something like as this is bound to cause different responses from people and there will be those who will find this unacceptable some because they don't accept women, some because of the very concept of gender redesignation.

"As a priest you always be prepared for people to come and go. There will be one or two who won't be able to make the transition with me and they will be sorely missed."

Rev Stone consulted two psychiatrists before starting hormone treatment last year and underwent privately-funded surgery almost three months ago.

After the operation she said she felt a tremendous sense of relief and peace.

"My first reaction was thank goodness everything is right now. There was a huge sense of normality. There were no angel trumpets it was just a sense of good, let's get on with this now."