THE CHRISTIAN Aid chief executive has been newly appointed an honorary Sarum Canon at Salisbury Cathedral.

Loretta Minghella now joins the College of Canons as a recognition of her personal contribution to the national and worldwide church.

As a Sarum Canon, Ms Minghella will now work alongside the other canons as an advisor on the Cathedral and its future plans and policies.

She was officially appointed, alongside Revd Eleanor Rance, Revd Paul Taylor, and Revd Simon Weeden in an Evensong ceremony held at the Cathedral.

Susanna Denniston, who has a background in international events and the arts, was also installed as a Lay Canon.

Reverend June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury said: “I am delighted to welcome Loretta to the College of Canons.

“Not only is she a distinguished figure in her field but one whose role it is to remind us of our duty not just to our congregation but to the wider community both on and beyond these shores.

“I am also pleased to welcome our four new canons from closer to home.

“All of them bring their own expertise and interests with them and will be a tremendous support as we move forward with our plans for the future of the Cathedral and Cathedral life.”

Before joining Christian Aid in 2010, Loretta practised as a criminal litigation lawyer, serving at the chief executive of the financial services compensation scheme.

In that capacity she oversaw the payment of over £21b in compensation to victims of bank failures, and was awarded with an OBE in the New Year’s Honours 2010.

Taking to social media after the event Ms Minghella said she was ‘thrilled’ to be appointed and said it was ceremony was ‘the warmest of welcome and a tremendous honour.’ Ms Minghella added that she was looking forward to nurturing bonds between Salisbury Diocese and Christian Aid in a shred pursuit to tackle poverty.