A priest who's worked closely with Prince Charles is the new rector for the Tarleton and Rufford.

And due to the Government’s ‘lock down’ instructions to avoid social contact, Mark Soady’s induction will be carried out online in what may be a first for the Church of England.

The induction and institution service for Fr Soady will take place on Wednesday April 6 with Rt Rev Philip North, Bishop of Burnley, Venerable Mark Ireland, Archdeacon of Blackburn, and the churchwardens each communicating through the internet rather than in person.

Parishioners will also be able to follow the proceedings online and the service will afterwards be posted on social media.

Fr Soady said that it was not known if the procedure had been carried out in that way before, so it could be the first time a priest had been installed remotely.

Mark will serve as rector for Anglican churches, Holy Trinity, Tarleton and St Mary the Virgin, Rufford. He is also Secretary to the Committee of Anglican Religious Communities in England, and was previously vicar of St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny, Wales, Prince Charles is Patron of the St Mary’s Priory Development Trust and the new rector says that the prince took a great interest in its work. As a consequence he says he worked “very closely” with the royal.

Prior to ordination he trained and worked as a psychiatric nurse. Afterwards, he was Head of Office for Glasgow MP Roy Jenkins (later Lord Jenkins of Hillhead), work which involved briefing the parliamentarian, managing his election campaign, and arranging meetings with heads of state.

About taking on the new role of rector in Tarleton and Rufford, Fr Soady said: “I am very much looking forward to living and serving in Lancashire.”