Former Jersey GP returns to island as rector

Sarah McClelland, right, grew up in Jersey and spent 14 years as a GP in St Helier

A former GP from Jersey will return to the island as a rector later this year.

The Reverend Sarah McClelland will move back to the island to become the new rector of St Brelade.

Mrs McClelland spent 14 years as a GP in Jersey, before leaving the island to retrain as a clergywoman in 2014.

She said she had "mixed emotions" about leaving her "beloved" current parish of St Francis, near Southampton, but she was "so excited by the great opportunity".

Mrs McClelland - whose interests include coffee and cake, back seat tandem riding and being in the sea - grew up on the island and attended Jersey College for Girls.

She studied medicine at St Andrews and Cambridge Universities, before working as a GP for 14 years in St Helier.

Mrs McClelland said she was drawn to the church after she and her husband became involved in leading youth work and working with young adults, during their time in Jersey.

She said: "In the end we realised that we were being drawn into church leadership and had the opportunity to push that door- which opened wide!"

She will move back to Jersey with her husband Cliff, a prison chaplain, in October before taking on the post in November.

Mrs McClelland said: "Jersey prison is even in the parish - the job is a great fit for us both."

The Very Rev Michael R Keirle, Dean of Jersey, said: "We look forward to a new phase of ministry and mission at St. Brelade's with St Aubin's and to Sarah and Cliff's arrival in our midst."