Former student to be chaplain to the Queen

The special role will mean that Ruth will continue in her current post, but will take up the honorary duties of chaplain to the Queen, which will include preaching once a year at St James' Palace and attending a garden party. She will also be entitled to wear a red cassock.

She will be one of a few women chaplains among the 36 who hold the position.

Ruth Worsley, currently Priest-in-Charge at St Christopher's church, Sneinton in Nottingham, was appointed as Area Dean of Nottingham North in 2006 and also represents the clergy of the diocese on the Church of England's General Synod. Before training for ordination, she studied theology and English at Manchester University and then began training as a nurse. After working in her local parish and assisting with pastoral and youth work, Ruth went on to take an MA in Mission and Ministry at St John's Theological College in Nottingham. She took on the first role as chaplain to students spouses at the college and then began training for ordination into the Church of England in 1996. She began work as a curate at St Stephen's Hyson Green and was appointed as Priest-in-Charge at the parish in 2001. She was appointed Area Dean of Nottingham North in 2006 and then Dean of Women's Ministry in 2007.

Ruth is married to Howard, who is the Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham and former tutor at St John's. They have three children - Nathanael, Jonathan and Ben.