A CATHEDRAL founded in the seventh century with a history of leading communications technology has appointed an officer to develop online prayer.

Siân Lawton, of Middleham, will also continue work to develop Ripon Cathedral's presence on the internet and enable conversations between people throughout the region, as well as providing a venue for its congregation to chat between Sunday services.

The appointment comes as Nick Morgan, who has developed the online ministry in recent years to make the Church more accessible, prepares to become curate in the Masham benefice next month.

One of the most popular aspects of the online ministry is the use of prayer on Twitter.

Daily at 11pm, an excerpt from the service of Compline is Tweeted with the hashtag #compline.

Mrs Lawton, whose husband, Chris, is curate at Leyburn and Bellerby, said: “Having recently finished my degree in Theology Mission and Ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham, it will be exciting to see how I can use all the things I have learnt in a practical way.

“Online prayer is an area we’re looking to develop, so keep an eye out by following @riponcathedral on Twitter to see what happens."

Canon Precentor Paul Greenwell said the monks of the cathedral's founder St Wilfrid were pioneers of calligraphy, when writing was the new technology.

He added: "We forget sometimes that even writing was cutting edge social media once, there really is nothing new under the sun.

"Here we are in cyberspace, bringing the Word of God to people wherever they are. I’m sure Wilfrid would approve.”