THE curate of the town's St John's Church, the Rev Michael Rogers, has been ordained as a priest by the Bishop of Worcester at a special service.

Mr Rogers, a married father of two grown-up children, was one of six deacons and six priests who were ordained at the service, which brought together clergy and parishioners from across the diocese, at Worcester Cathedral.

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, who ordained the candidates, said: "Once again we are very fortunate in the variety of gifts being brought to our diocese by those who are in their first post in ordained ministry here."

Mr Rogers joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an engineer officer in 1971. He served in a variety of locations and retired in 1999 as a group captain. He was awarded the OBE in the 1991 Gulf War Honours List.

He was a lay reader for the majority of his time in the RAF.

The Rev Anthony Pettit, whose family is from Clent and who went to school in Hagley, was also ordained priest. He is curate at Malvern Priory.