Richard ParrA Norfolk Rector is to take up a new appointment just weeks after her summer wedding.The Rev Sally Theakston , who has been Team Rector at St Faith's Church, Gaywood, for nearly seven years, is to take up the same post in the Dereham and district ministry team.Richard Parr

A Norfolk Rector is to take up a new appointment just weeks after her summer wedding.

The Rev Sally Theakston , who has been Team Rector at St Faith's Church, Gaywood, for nearly seven years, is to take up the same post in the Dereham and district ministry team.

Miss Theakston, 47, a former Royal Navy chaplain, is due to be married on August 30 to 62-year-old Michael Fillenham, a long-serving and well-known member of St Faith's congregation. The couple are to be married in St Faith's Church by the Venerable Martin Gray, the retired Archdeacon of Lynn, who is a former curate at Gaywood.

It will be a busy summer for Miss Theakston as she prepares for her wedding and her move from Gaywood Rectory to her new home at the Vicarage in Dereham.

Her institution to her new parish is likely to take place in September and performed by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James.

During her time at Gaywood, where she was the parish's first woman Rector, Miss Theakston has become a popular figure, not only in Gaywood, but in the wider King's Lynn community.

One of the biggest changes in her new post will be that she will be responsible for six church buildings in rural communities around Dereham rather than the one church building she has care of at present. As well as St Nicholas' Church at Dereham, the team ministry also includes the rural parishes of Scarning, Swanton Morley, Beetley with East Bilney and Hoe.

Earlier today Miss Theakston said that while she is looking forward to moving to mid-Norfolk from the western part of the county, she will be sad to leave all the clergy colleagues and friends she has made in the parish where the Anglican and Methodists have joint use of the Gaywood building for worship.

Miss Theakston and Mr Fillenham, a retired education administrator, became engaged last year. Mr Fillenham has been a member of St Faith's Church for many years and has undertaken a number of voluntary roles within the lay ministry. His romance with Miss Theakston has been witnessed by the congregation and their engagement news did not come as much of a surprise to them.

While there have been curates who have become engaged and married while serving at St Faith's, Miss Theakston is believed to be the first Rector to be married while in post.

Dereham St Nicholas' churchwarden David Ovenden said he and his colleagues are delighted at Miss Theakston's appointment as Team Rector at Dereham.

'We very much look forward to Miss Theakston's ministry amongst us,' he said.