THREE years ago Maggie Thorne was teaching the clarinet at a school in Abingdon.

But now she is getting ready to bring a different kind of guidance to Oxford residents.

As the new vicar of St Mary’s Church, in Bayswater Road, Barton, she is hoping to bring spiritual growth to the estate.

The 53-year-old mother-of-two said: “Obviously any vicar would hope for church growth, both in numbers and in depth, but it is probably best to think in terms of spiritual growth in the area.

“I am hoping to be the link between the church and the community.

“There are lots of possibilities but I will have to wait and see how that will happen.”

Mrs Thorne has moved to the area with her husband Richard, a flute teacher.

Before becoming an Anglican priest three years ago she was a clarinet teacher at the School of St Helen and St Katharine School, in Abingdon.

She said: “I always had a very pastoral interest in what was going on in the Church and it grew until the itch to serve became too much.

“My father was a United Reformed Church minister, so the seed was sown right from the start.”

Mrs Thorne trained at Ripon College, in Cuddesdon, before becoming a curate in Reading.

She replaces the Rev Jonathan Sewell, who left St Mary’s last April and has since moved to the North of England to be closer to his elderly parents. Since April, services have been taken by temporary priests.

Church warden Sheila Fulham said: “We are all very excited about our new vicar. She seems very capable and is interested in our parish.”

Mrs Thorne will be inducted at a 7.30pm service on Monday.

All are welcome and refreshments will be available after the service.