The Rev'd Edwards will take over at St Peter's Church in Fairfield next week after he is licensed by the Rt Revd Humphrey Southern, Bishop of Repton on Tuesday, June 16.

He will replace the Rev'd Jonathan Cooper, who died in February 2008.

Carl has strong connections with the High Peak, having attended Chapel-en-le-Frith school. He has also previously lived in Buxton and Whaley Bridge, working for various local businesses.

He has long been involved with church life but was ordained as a Church of England minister just four years ago. He studied Theology and Ministry at Durham and was previously a curate in the parish of St Giles with St Matthew, in Scartho, Grimsby.

Whilst at Fairfield, his role will also include pastoral responsibility for Christ Church in King Sterndale.

He said: "It is wonderful to be coming back home to the beauty of Derbyshire.

"The privilege of walking in the footsteps of my predecessors at St Peter's is both challenging and exciting, and I am very much looking forward to working with the people of St Peter's and Christ Church as we engage together in the task of making Christ known in the community.

"I really grew into an understanding of God's love. My response to that was to get involved in church life.

"Working with young people and families to deliver that message will be fairly high on my list of priorities. That has to be done with an awareness that there are people who for decades have seen St Peter's as their parish church and anything that we do needs to be done with sensitivity to the existing congregation.

"The church has been ably looked after by the church wardens amongst other people and services have been looked after by various members of the clergy in the area for which the congregation are extremely grateful."

Carl is married with four children and as well as his Christian faith, his interests include motorcycling and hill walking. He is a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association and owns a Yamaha 650 Dragstar bike.

He has previously been involved with both St Thomas Becket Church in Chapel-en-le-Frith and the New Life Christian Centre in Buxton.