Clergywoman Jane Parry was working with a very different type of spirit when she took on the role of a pub landlord in an experiment to connect with the community.
While the vicar at St Philip’s in Alderley Edge was pulling pints at the De Trafford Arms on London Road, general manager Andy Baron, who hasn’t set foot in a church for more than 10 years, took on her christian duties.
Mum-of-two Jane, 46, said: "It’s all a bit of fun.
"I hope it brings the church and the community together. This way it gives me a chance to see what it’s like to be a Christian from the point of view of the congregation.
"I would love to try other jobs out, although I am not sure I would be very good at being a footballer for the day – I like my high heels too much and I’m am not sure they would let me on the pitch with them."
Instead of serving his regulars, Andy, of Heyes Lane, Alderley Edge, led morning prayers, visited the housebound and even took assembly at Alderley Edge School for Girls. Andy, 40, said: "I thought it would be nice to get out there an have a little taste of life outside our four walls, I didn’t think about having to do an assembly with 400 girls all staring up at me."
He added: "I’m not going to go back and preach to everyone and Jane’s not going to get everybody drunk, it’s just a bit of fun to see what we all get up to.
"We don’t normally mix, but we all live in the same village so it seemed like a good way to bring us together."
