Long-standing members of our church, Peter Dawson and Richard Hooker were ordained by the Bishop of Guildford on Sunday 28 June, after they both took extra training to become 'Ordained Local Ministers'. This is a voluntary position entitling them to take baptisms, weddings, funerals, and after one year they will be able to officiate at Holy Communion services. There will be plenty for them to do helping the full-time clergy at our eight Sunday services.

For Peter, who works full-time as the Parish administrator, the training involved three years weekly evening classes, essays and preaching. He also widened his experience with placements at St Barnabas' church in Epsom and shadowing the chaplain at Epsom hospital.

As a 'Lay Reader', Richard already took services and preached in the parish, but he had to do a further two years' study. He predicts that it will be a challenge to fit this new role into his busy life as a dentist. "Over the next year I need to work out, with God's help, the fine balance between my full-time job and about 16 hours of church commitments each week."