A CLERGYMAN who is not afraid to speak out when his conscience demands it is celebrating 50 years in the ministry.

Over the last half century, the Reverend Martin King has inspired worshippers across the region, including in Newton Aycliffe, Middleton-St-George and Sedgefield, County Durham.

More than 100 people, as well as visitors from Sedgefield’s twin town of Hamminkeln in Germany, attended a special service at St Edmund’s Church to mark the milestone and celebrate his dedication.

However, his church career has not been free from controversy.

Never frightened of speaking his mind, in 2003, he joined anti-war campaigners on the streets of Sedgefield to protest over the impending invasion of Iraq.

On one occasion the Prime Minister Tony Blair was visiting his constituency with his wife Cherie; another time the Sedgefield MP was accompanied by US Prime Minister George Bush.

Rev King, who formally retired in 2004 but still leads services in the Sedgefield area, said: “I am amazed how much people have wanted to work for the churches where I have been working. I am amazed at how God has managed to hold on to someone who is really rather an ordinary person.”

Originally from Berkshire, Rev King, 75, moved to the North-East in his mid-twenties to take up a position at his first parish, St Hilda’s in South Shields.

He later served as a part-time chaplain at Winterton Hospital in Sedgefield, before moving to become a senior curate in Newton Aycliffe where he met his wife Alison.

After serving as a vicar in Chilton Moor near Sunderland for some years, he moved to Middleton-St-George in 1987 before settling in Sedgefield in 1991, serving as rector responsible for four Sunday congregations, two churches and a curate.

It was a busy time and Rev King threw himself into his work, building relationships with his congregation and helping forge links with Sedgefield’s twin town.

A firm believer in the importance of team work, he is proud Sedgefield became the first parish to have a trained diocesan team.

“This group, focused on Christ’s work – not simply on keeping the church’s wheels turning – and doing so together, felt like New Testament life,” he said. “It was the most satisfying end to my formal ministry.”