Rev Pap makes history as first female minister of Mansfield Unitarians

She said: “This appointment is a great honour and I hope it will be a great opportunity both for the congregation and for me.

“I bring an outsider’s perspective, but our common faith and values will be a bridge between our cultural differences and could give us a fresh look on ourselves and our calling.

“We hope that honouring our tradition we will find together new ways to deepen our faith, to strengthen our service and to make our presence felt in the outside world.”

The induction service, at Mansfield’s historic Old Meeting House, was led by Paul Frost, Old Meeting House vice-chairman and attended by Coun Kate Allsop, Mayor of Mansfield, Derek McAuley, chief officer of the Unitarian General Assembly in the UK and Rev Celia Cartwright, vice-president of the General Assembly, as well as representatives of a wide range of churches, organisations and groups.