OLD Hill has a newly ordained deacon – who went to church for the first time just 12 years ago.

Rich Hackett was one of 12 candidates who were ordained as deacons at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday, and he now faces his first year of training as a curate at Holy Trinity Church.

But it was only after experiencing a moment of conversion where he felt God speaking to him that Rich started to explore faith, and he became a Christian after getting married.

The former IT worker said: “My vicar asked whether I would consider being ordained and I began to explore the possibility. On the weekend when I’d planned to go away and pray about it, a congregation member came up and asked the same question.

“I’m hoping to be able to bring some of the lessons I’ve learnt in business into parish life. I think it’s important for churches to understand and respond to how people are consuming information today and the fact they’re used to a well-packaged product.

“We need to represent Jesus as well as we can. I want to come alongside people and journey with them.

“Today’s society is all about not being good enough and is often very fragmented, but faith and the church can offer a different narrative. In particular, I really feel called to minister to those who are most disaffected in our society and are on the fringes.

“I hope my ministry will be one of mission and evangelism – meeting people where they are.”

The Bishop of Worcester, John Inge, presided at the ordination of deacons, while Archdeacon Rick Simpson, Archdeacon of Auckland in the Diocese of Durham, preached at the service having led the pre-ordination retreat for candidates.

Bishop John added: “It is always a great privilege to be able to ordain people who have discovered the love of God in their lives and have decided to devote themselves to bringing that love to others.

“Not only the church, but all society will be hugely enriched as a result.”

Halesowen man Adam Hadley was also ordained at the service and will now serve at St Thomas’s Church in Stourbridge.