A POLICE officer, former Durham University students and a social media consultant are among a group of people set to be ordained as priests and deacons at Durham Cathedral this weekend.

Each one will be called to ordained ministry in the Diocese of Durham on Saturday (June 28) after massing a wealth of experience from different aspects of life.

Among the group, is Kevin Kitson, who is leaving his role as a forensic investigator dealing with major incidents at Durham Police to become a curate at Durham North Team Ministry.

The 49-year-old said: “I always had faith, but growing up with parents who were not churchgoers I never really had a way into church.

“Then one day, eight years ago, I woke up with an overwhelming feeling that I had to go to church. Even when I did go it was not enough. I had this feeling that I was not yet where God wanted me.”

He added: “For 28 years I’ve been feeling other people’s collars, now God has felt mine.”

Bryony Taylor, 36, who will become curate of Houghton-le-Spring, dreamed of running a church since childhood.

Her most recent job was a social media consultant helping people to use Facebook and Twitter for business.

“A friend said that my last job was a dream job and yet I still was not where I belonged,” she said. “I realised that I could evangelise really well through the use of social media but I felt a nudge from God to do more.”