A FORMER solicitor who left the legal profession to be ordained as a priest has been appointed rector of the Dunster Benefice.

The Rev Caroline Ralph was officially welcomed to the five parishes that she will oversee at a special service and celebration in St George's Church, Dunster, on Tuesday.

Miss Ralph has moved to West Somerset after a three-year stint as vicar of St Peter's Church in Harborne, near Birmingham.

And some of her former parishioners made the journey to Dunster to join in the celebrations.

Among the other 200-plus guests were the Bishop of Taunton the Rt Rev Peter Maurice, who inducted Miss Ralph, and the Archdeacon of Taunton the Venerable John Reed, who installed her in her new post.

Miss Ralph, originally from Kent, studied ancient and medieval history at the University of Birmingham before training as a solicitor.

She spent five years working in the legal profession in Devon, moving to Bristol after being called to the bar.

Miss Ralph was a member of the Western Circuit of barristers for 14 years, specialising in family law.

She also sat as a deputy district judge.

But in 2004 she left the legal profession to study for ordination in Cambridge.

After being ordained in Exeter Cathedral in 2006, she was appointed the following year as priest at Holy Cross Church, Crediton in Devon, moving to Harborne in 2010.

The service of induction and installation was followed by a reception in the Tenants Hall at Dunster Castle.

Laurie Hambrook, churchwarden at St George's, said the whole event had gone very well.

"Everyone worked very hard to make it a success - and it was," he said.

In addition to St George's, Miss Ralph, who counts bee keeping amongst her hobbies, will be in charge of St John the Baptist in Carhampton, St Nicholas, Withycombe, St Petroc's, Timberscombe and All Saints, Wootton Courtenay.

She replaces the Rev Lee Brant, who left the benefice earlier this year.

From left, the Rt Rev Peter Maurice, the Rev Caroline Ralph, the Venerable John Reed and rural dean the Rev Stephen Stuckes.Photo: Steve Guscott