MORE people than ever are dedicating their life to serving God in the diocese of Worcestershire, with a record 19 people being ordained this year.

The annual ordination service will take place at Worcester Cathedral on Sunday, July 2. The service begins at 10.30am and will bring together clergy and parishioners from across the diocese. This year, 10 priests and nine deacons will be ordained to serve in parishes throughout the county. Their previous careers include actor, probation officer, nurse and teacher.

The candidates will prepare for their ordination during a retreat to be led by the Rev Chris Pullin, vicar of St John-in-Bedwardine, Worc-ester, who will also preach the sermon at the ordination service. Among those to be ordained as a priest will be Ashley Collishaw, a curate in the Worcester City parish. He was born and brought up in Nottingham and attended the Scottish Academy for Acting.

His interests are theatre, film, cricket, and the 'demise of Nottingham Forest'. He will continue to live in Worcester with his wife, Alex and their two children.

Linda Bedford was born and brought up in Droitwich and has spent her life in the Worcestershire area. At present she lives in Hanley Swan with her husband of 41 years, Tony. They have one son, John who is now 37 years old.

Linda, who is to be ordained as a deacon, qualified as a nurse in 1965 and for the next 26 years followed that career before gaining a BA degree and entering into teaching. She will serve as a non-stipendiary curate in the parish of Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan and Welland.

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, said: "We all give thanks that God is calling so many people forward to be deacons and priests. I am looking forward to the ordination service and to celebrating the gifts we are receiving through those being ordained."