A new rector has been appointed at the historic church at the heart of Birmingham ' s Bullring development.

The Rev Stewart Jones, aged 48, is moving to Birmingham from Kent where he is currently priest-in-charge of All Saints, Canterbury, as well as diocesan missioner, area dean and a provincial canon of Canterbury Cathedral, to become rector of St Martin-inthe-Bullring.

The new rector will be responsible for leading the church in its ministry of service to the city centre and is likely to start working in the city from late autumn.

Mr Jones said: "It is with a deep sense of excitement that I prepare to be the next rector of St Martins-in-the-Bullring. Coming to such a vibrant church community at the very heart of the city of Birmingham is something I am very pleased about.

"I look forward to discovering more about the place and the people."

St Martin-in-the-Bullring, which dates back to medieval times, was at the centre of the renovation of the Bullring area five years ago.

Traditionally it provides a sanctuary to the homeless, the vulnerable, or those just wanting a break from the bustle of the city centre.

Mr Jones said he hoped to continue that tradition.

"I can only be the rector with the help and support of others," he said. " Through working together and by relying on God I believe that we can help build on what has already been achieved at St Martins.

" Birmingham is often described as Britain's second city. In God's eyes nowhere and no one is second. For Him we all come first. As rector of St Martins I want the people of Birmingham to discover this for themselves." Mr Jones was chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1997 to 2003 and has also worked in Bristol as a vicar and a curate.

Before being ordained he worked with people who are homeless and was a graduate management trainee with the National Westminster Bank.

He is married with three children.