TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'wonderful' vicar who collapsed during Sunday morning service.

The Rev Glenys Brown was rushed to Leighton Hospital after falling ill during her regular service at St Chad's Church, off Swan-low Lane, Winsford, but paramedics and doctors were unable to save her.

As yet, the cause of death has not been revealed, but the tragedy has left a huge gap in the Winsford community, where Mrs Brown, 47, was extremely well-known and liked.

Her husband David said her brother and parents in Wigan were shocked and saddened by her untimely death.

He added: 'I'm just incredibly thankful for 18 years of a wonderful and incredible relationship. As a friend of hers once said, everyone who met her was the better for it.'

Christine Keay, reader at St Chad's and a close friend, said: 'From the moment I met her, I knew Glenys was right for the parish and in the short time she was here she proved me right. She was an excellent priest, a friend to everyone, always ready to listen and give advice.

'I will miss her encouragement and support, but we can all be assured that she died doing the job she loved and that the God she loved will welcome her into His Kingdom.'

Sadness at the death of Mrs Brown quickly spread through Winsford.

She was ordained as the first female vicar to grace St Chad's, Winsford's oldest church, in September 2002, taking over from the Rev Jerry Sutton.

Mrs Brown arrived at the Winsford church from St Luke's in Wythenshawe, where she served as curate, and wasted no time in becoming as asset to the community. She did a lot of work to unite churches in Winsford through the Churches Together group.

Her church warden and friend Cllr Nick Harris, who invited Mrs Brown to serve as Winsford mayor's chaplain last year during his term of office, said: 'I am devastated, as is everyone who knew her.

'She was a wonderful lady, no one could have a bad word to say about her.

'She did a lot of work with young people and she did a lot for other less-fortunate people. It's a very sad loss to us all.'

Vale Royal mayor Anne Hooker, who had asked Mrs Brown to be her chaplain, said: 'I was very saddened to hear of this tragic loss.'

Jacqui Hammond, RE teacher at Verdin High School, said services of remembrance would be held in her honour when the children returned from the summer holiday.

She said: 'Our Year 7 pupils met with Rev Brown just last week at St Chad's Church, and she was always happy to come in to talk to the children. She was a real friend to the school.

'She was very good with the pupils and was very popular in school.'

The Rev Brown's funeral, which is being arranged by Pope Funeral Services, takes place on Tuesday at 1.30pm at St Chad's Church, followed by cremation in Crewe. On Monday the church will be open from 10am-2pm for anyone who would like to pay their respects.