A NEW deacon has been appointed in Devizes, after the Archbishop of Canterbury gave special permission for him to join the ministry at just 22 – a year younger than is usually allowed.

The Rev Ben Rundell-Evans, of Queen’s Road, has been living in Devizes for the past month with his wife Megan and was ordained at a service in Salisbury Cathedral on June 26. He has now begun work at St John's and St Mary's Churches, and is looking forward to meeting people of all ages across the parish.

Rev Rundell-Evans said: “I discerned my vocation in Portsmouth and trained at Ripon College Cuddesdon for three years. I joined the college when I was 19. When I was offered the position of deacon in Devizes I thought it was a very good offer. I originally come from Petersfield, so I have gone from Hampshire to Wiltshire.

“Being ordained at this stage of my life does not mean that I am extraordinarily gifted, wise beyond my years or that I am particularly academic: it does, however, say something very profound about the Church of England.

"By ordaining me at this stage in my life, the Church of England says that whatever your age, whatever your experience, whatever your background, you play a part in the mission of God. This as a message is something that I am very passionate about.

"All people play a part in the mission of God, and with this I have a deep interest in all expressions of church, and how many expressions of faith can inform each other about the mystery of God and this life that we live.”

The service in Salisbury saw ten new priests and 12 new deacons ordained. Rev Rundell-Evans has already started settling into the position and the town.

“I think it is very exciting, quite a challenge too. Especially coming into it at a young age where I will not have the same experience as others, but it does open up a new perspective. The service was very exciting but also very tiring, standing in front of everyone for an hour and three-quarters,” said Rev Evans.

“Devizes is a lovely place to be, I am excited but there still is some mystery to me about what my role will include in what priests do exactly. I think there are lots of way to describe it, I believe it is to help enable people of the church to do God’s work,” he added.

As a young member of the church, Rev Rundell-Evans has advice for other young people who may find themselves being called to a role in the church.

"If I had any advice for people discerning for any ministry or vocation at a young age, it would be simply to remember who you are, and that God calls you as you are, not what people might like you to be," he said.

"The church needs people from all parts of our church family to play a part in the mission of God and that should never be age-dependent," he added.