FORMER school head of music David Stephenson will be marching to a heavenly tune in Darwen from now on.

The ex-teacher was on of 14 new priests ordained at a service led by Bishop of Blackburn Julian Henderson this month.

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He has swapped pupils for parishioners and hopes to strike the right note in his new vocation.

The 39-year-old from Lincolnshire has been commuting from Burnley since he joined the Church of England ministry at St Peter’s Church Darwen.

The former head of music in a secondary school is full of praise for the welcome he has received from people in the parish and town during his year as a deacon there before ordination to the priesthood at Blackburn Cathedral by Bishop of Lancaster Geoff Pearson.

He said: “It has been stunning and incredibly humbling.

“Being invited to share in the lives of people when they are at their most vulnerable, too, has been a real privilege.

“As a fully-fledged priest I am looking forward to being able to celebrate the Eucharist with the people whom I serve “I think after a year or preaching, teaching, sharing and laughing with my congregation, nothing would surprise them about me.”

The Rev Stephenson is committed to the new Blackburn Diocesan vision of Healthy Churches Transforming Communities at Parish Level.

He said: “I shall be teaching and leading in the parish on prayer, radical welcome, radical inclusivity, honesty, integrity and encouraging personal interaction with the un-churched and de-churched and extending the ministry of invitation.

“I also have an interest in developing our work with baptism and funeral families – extending the love of Christ, through the Church, to them through more meaningful interaction and invitation.

“My vision for vision for the church is as an open and honest community based on faith and works which is able to see over and beyond human differences of gender, race, class, sexuality, church preferences, and get on with what we I believe we are called to do.

“That is to show our love for God in worship.”