FROM Romania to the heart of London; the Bishop of Durham is preparing to welcome 22 new priests and deacons into the Church of England this weekend.

Bishop Paul Butler invited the seven upcoming deacons and 15 priests to his home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, today, June 29.

The candidates, who are aged from 28 to 70, come from all walks of life and will be officially ordained at ceremonies in Durham Cathedral on Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3.

Each one has been called to ordained ministry after amassing a wealth of experiences in a wide range of places and jobs.

Communities from as far as Gateshead to Hartlepool and as wide as Peterlee to St Helen Auckland, are expected to benefit from the new deacons and priests.

One man preparing to be ordained as a deacon, Petric? Bistran, shared his story of discovering Christianity when he was 15, after growing up in the early years after the collapse of Communism in Romania.

The 31-year-old will become a deacon at St Matthew’s Church, in Silksworth, Sunderland.

“I was quite confused growing up in an early ex?Communist environment. I became a Christian when I was about 15 and that was a very good thing for me but it also complicated life a bit,” he said.

“I started preaching and leading services from when I was 17. I did my first degree in theology and, alongside it, trained to become a pastor, but then I took a sudden, and rather long, break while deciding whether I should work for the church or not; any church at that point.

“Moving to England and joining the local Anglican church in Nottingham where we were at the time turned out to be my long and sure path back to ministry.

“Having to work in my second language has been one of the biggest challenges for me beside all the drawbacks that come with being a foreigner. The advantage of this challenge, I guess, is the opportunity of being able to always learn something new.”

Another candidate preparing for her new role as a priest is Kate Jamie.

The 34-year-old said she did not expect to get her calling while working at The Globe Theatre, in London but has enjoyed her first year in the ministry at St Mary’s, in Easington and The Ascension, in Easington Colliery; churches she will remain in as a priest.

“I was always keen to look at ways in which I could draw together my faith and the arts,” she said. “I have honestly loved my last year – the community have been really loving and welcoming to both me and my husband Matt.”

Bishop Paul praised the candidates saying they “bring a freshness” to the church.