After four years, St Chad’s gets a new vicar
Following an interregnum lasting more than four years, St Chad’s finally has a new vicar, the Rev Merewyn Smith – known as Merry – who was installed at a special service taken by the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Rev Tim Wambunya. In his address from the pulpit, the bishop called it a day of new beginnings. He said Merry would face a lot of new challenges but advised her to reach out to all sections of the community – to whom. he added. she would be “a huge blessing”. More than 200 people attended the service, which was followed by refreshments in the Village Hall.
All smiles after the installation service.
From left: St Chad’s Churchwarden Clive Pendrell; the Associate Archdeacon of Walsall, the Rev Jim Trood; the Rural Dean, the Rev Preb Julia Cody; the Bishop of Wolverhampton; St Chad’s new vicar, the Rev Merry Smith; Merry’s husband Lee with their daughter Beatrice; St Chad’s churchwarden Dorothy Steel.
Rev Tim Wambunya, welcomes her to St Chad’s
(taken from the article which appeared in the September 2025 Parish News magazine.)
Photography by Mandy Allesbrook and Mike Moss