WHILE most work experience opportunities might involve making the offices teas and photocopying, for Amelie Charlton it has been a more of a baptism of fire.

The 11-year-old has been given the role of Colchester's first ever Child Bishop after she impressed the town's grown up Bishop with her "moving" enthusiasm for her faith.

Amelie's action-packed week in the role began with helping to lead a Sunday service dressed in full robes and even included her addressing the Bishop's Council.

Dad Douglas said: "It was the local Reverend Mandy Elmes, for West Bergholt, Great Horkesley and Langham, who came around to our house and said would Amelie be interested because the Bishop had been quite taken by her when she had her confirmation last December.

"She gave a speech as to why she followed the Christian faith and why she chose to be confirmed.

"It is quite rare but the Bishop of Colchester had conducted the service - normally it is done by the vicar.

"Amelie had a long chat with him afterwards - he thought she was very bubbly and fun."

At St Mary's Church in Langham on Sunday, Amelie, who attends St Benedict's Catholic College, Colchester, was invited to lead some of the service.

Douglas said: "She turned up at the church thinking she was just going to have to stand up at the front and put her hand up but she had to do a reading and had to put on full robes.

"She was allowed to take final prayers before everybody left."

Douglas was in the congregation while Amelie's mum Erin stayed at home to look after the couple's younger daughter, Matilda, three.

Amelie, who actually has her sights set on becoming a vet, said: "I was very nervous and didn't know what to expect but at the same time it was very exciting."

Douglas continued: "She is really honoured by it."

"She is quite confident in terms of sport and things like that but when it comes to speaking to groups of people she is really nervous.

"One of the things she hopes to take out of this is to build her confidence."

Bishop of Colchester, The Rt Rev Roger Morris, said: "The tradition of choosing a child bishop has been around since the late middle ages.

"A young person, usually a choirboy, would take on the role of bishop on the feast day of St Nicholas, who is the patron saint of children, and would continue in that role until December 28.

"Child bishops are a reminder that we shouldn’t think too highly of ourselves.

"When Jesus’ disciples got into a heated argument about which of them was the greatest, Jesus placed a child in their midst to remind them of the need for humility.

"A child bishop also learns about the church and the work done by its leaders."

Roger added how Amelie spoke "very movingly" about what her faith meant to her at her confirmation.

"I thought then that if I was to introduce this tradition to Colchester then Amelie was the perfect candidate.

"I wanted someone who had a lively faith - and who would not be phased by the very public nature of the role."

By the end of the week, Amelie will have visited a young people's Bible Study Group, led the opening worship at Bishop's Council in Chelmsford, attended a school concert in a church in Tendring, met with the stars of the Harry and Chris Show at Colchester the Arts Centre), visited her own youth club and preached a short sermon at St Leonard’s Church in Lexden.

The tradition of a child bishop thrives in places like Salisbury Cathedral and various parish churches but Roger said he was not but aware of it having happened in Essex in recent years.