David Battison will be ordained deacon in Derby Cathedral this Sunday 5th July (1045) by the Bishop of Derby, Dr Alastair Redfern. He will become Curate of Holy Trinity and St Mary's Cromford and Matlock Bath.

Ordination to the diaconate means that the new clergy serve as deacons for a year before then usually being ordained into the priesthood.

Northampton born Dave, 47, trained at St John's, Nottingham, completing a two year postgraduate course.  

Before training for ministry, Dave worked for Barclays Bank for over twenty years, and then left in 2002 to establish his own Management Training company, which he successfully operated for five years before his vocational path took him in a completely unexpected direction!

Dave said today: "Making the transition from training consultant to student priest has been a life changing experience in every way. I'm very much looking forward to my future ministry at Holy Trinity and St Mary's, but will still see and feel the ‘L' plates I'll be wearing on my back!"

Dave and other candidates for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood will begin a retreat today (Wednesday 1st July) before their ordination on Sunday.

He has been married to Gill for 18 years and they have three children - twin sons Tommy and Joshua (11), and a daughter Grace (8).

Dave is a tennis enthusiast, a keen gardener and, together with his sons, tries to follow the fortunes of Arsenal FC.

For more information contact

Dave:

davidbattison12@ntlworld.com

07971 506088