CHURCHES will be ringing the changes following the appointment of a tourism officer.

Clare Phipps will be ensuring historic churches and their buildings will be at the top of the agenda after clinching the unique post covering the Diocese of Hereford.

"I'm very excited by the challenge of 400 church buildings and communities. Most of them are very historic," she said.

"This is the first post of its kind and I shall be aiming to work with four parishes initially and assess what's needed. I have lots of ideas too, which I hope will inspire everyone."

More than 95 per cent of churches in the diocese - which covers Herefordshire and parts of Worcestershire - are Grade I or II listed.

"I'm going to spend some time doing research on what's been done so far, but I'm sure working together, we will be able to do so much more," said Ms Phipps.

"Just imagine a rural landscape without our churches - it would be so bare.

"We need to remind people of not just the building from the outside, but what they might find inside, so promotion is vital."

As well as covering Herefordshire and parts of Worcestershire, the diocese covers Shropshire and Powys.

Ms Phipps stepped into the role as churches tourism officer last Monday and is based in Hereford.