New Alderney vicar welcomed at special service

The Reverend Samantha Martell was welcomed as Alderney's new vicar at St Anne's Church on Saturday

Alderney's new vicar has been welcomed during a special service and described it as a "surreal" moment.

The Reverend Samantha Martell was officially installed and inducted into her new role at St Anne's Church on Saturday.

The service was led by Dean of Guernsey, the Very Reverend Tim Barker.

Mrs Martell said after only a few days living on the island she felt it was the "most beautiful place in the world".

Mrs Martell said she realised she wanted to be a vicar while she was in hospital

"We have lived in some beautiful places, but it is wonderful to be here," she said.

Before becoming a vicar she worked as a pig farmer, and while moving a heavy machine she "tweaked her neck".

She took herself to hospital and was put in a neck brace for about three months, an experience which led to her realising she wanted to be a vicar.

Mrs Martell said: "I had pressure fractures in my neck and in the base of my spine. It was not just from moving the machine, but I grew up playing polo, riding horses and farming pigs. It's not a light thing to do.

"It was while I was in hospital it was when God said, 'oh good, you have stopped, let's chat'."

'Not culturally relevant'

Talking about her new role, she said: "The challenges here are the same everywhere. Church is not culturally relevant to so many people now.

"Church for many people when they were younger was almost an indoctrination and they've been pushed away.

"For me it's just showing the love of Jesus to everybody, building those relationships and just inviting them to come and see."