THE new rector at a prominent church has said he will bring experience and an outsider's perspective to his new role.

Rev Malcolm Lambert has been installed as rector at St Mary's, in Chigwell High Road, at a ceremony presided over by the Bishop of Barking.

A former psychiatric nurse, Mr Lambert joined the ministry in 1990 when he felt the calling to help people with their spiritual needs.

He said: “It's something I was thinking about for a long time. My job in the health service was changing and I was losing the one-to-one contact with people. Faced with 20 years of being in admin I chose to spend more time with people.”

Although he has spent the majority of his life in Leicestershire, Mr Lambert was actually born in St Margaret's Hospital, Epping, and his new role represents something of a belated homecoming.

“It's been fun actually, I've never lived here before,” he said. “When I received the paperwork about the parish I did feel very curious. I was born in Epping but didn't know anything about the place at all. I left when I was one.”

Mr Lambert, 50, has come to Chigwell fresh from spending a year in Belize, Central America, where he worked in a Christian mission.

He said: “Belize is beautiful, but very, very poor. It's very hot there and we regularly had temperatures of over 35 degrees, sometimes over 40.

“I was responsible for training members of the church and helping at two small congregations. It was very positive. I'm glad I did it.

“Having come back I needed to find a new parish. My wife is also ordained so we needed two posts available at the same time. We applied for jobs all over the country until we found this one.”

Mr Lambert's wife, Ruth, is now the chaplain at Queen's Hospital, Romford, and King George's Hospital, Goodmayes. The couple have two grown-up children together.

As new rector Mr Lambert is the first person appointed to the position since the retirement 18 months ago of Peter Trendall.

He said: “The community has been extremely welcoming, and we are really enjoying living here.”

Q&A

What is your favourite piece of music?

I have an enormous collection of CDs and MP3 tracks. Choosing would be too hard.

What are you reading at the moment, and what is your favourite book?

I'm reading a Joanna Trollope novel at the moment. I suppose I would have to say the Bible is my favourite book, but other than that Middlemarch by George Eliot.

What is your favourite hobby?

I play the clarinet, mandolin and guitar and sing. As well as that I like swimming, and walking in the countryside, and there's lots of beautiful countryside here.

Who is your hero?

My recent hero would be Desmond Tutu.

What is your earliest memory?

Aged three and being in the back of a car which had broken down at the side of the road.

What do you like most about Chigwell?

The best thing has been the welcome from people. They've been extremely friendly and I've never seen so many smiling faces.

What do you hope to bring to St Mary's?

I bring the experience of having been the vicar at a number of other churches. And having just come back from Central America we still see things from the outside which is a good thing to be able to do.