A church of England vicar is set to return to parish duties in Wiltshire at the weekend after a sex change operation. Parishioners at St Philip's Church in Upper Stratton, Swindon, Wilts, will attend a service led by the Rev Carol Stone on Sunday after four years of ministry in the parish by her former self - the Rev Peter Stone.
Although it is believed that some retired clergy may have undergone the operation, the Church of England confirmed that Ms Stone is its first serving vicar to have done so.
Ms Stone (46) told a press conference at the home of the Bishop of Swindon, the Right Rev Michael Doe, of her relief after the operation. "I only have two vocations in my whole life. They are to be a priest and to be a woman," she said. "My last prayer at night was that I'd wake up a girl. My first reaction after it all was `thank goodness'."
Ms Stone said she had received support from her family and colleagues. She would not reveal whether she was in a relationship at present but said she had already had photographs taken for a new passport and driving licence.
Ms Stone was ordained in 1978 and served at Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. As the Rev Peter Stone she was chaplain and head of religious studies at Dauntsey's School, West Lavington, before moving to Upper Stratton in 1996.