REACHING out to a new congregation in a digital age is the plan for the new Reverend at St Matthew's Church in Stretton.

The Reverend Alan Jewell has taken up the post after being ordained earlier this month and hopes to bring a new approach to get more younger families and couples into the church community.

He said: "I'm quite at home on Facebook and twitter and when I remember I do blog too.

"Like most churches the age profile of people who go to church is not the same as those in the community.

"People have been going for many years so you don't want to lose that feeling but how does a church reach out to young families and young couples?

"We have to recognise we live in a world that is changing beyond recognition."

The 54-year-old has moved to the village with wife Rose after spending 17 years serving in the Halewood area of Liverpool.

Before that he spent time at a parish in St Helens and Aylesbury after first being ordained in 1986.

He has three children - Chris who lives in Melbourne, Matthew and Lizzy who both live in London.

And already he has been settling into the community and his new role at the church.

"I just want to get to know poeple and it can take quite a long time to do that.," added Mr Jewell. "The first process is to get to now people and to find out about the parish."