THREE new deacons have been ordained for Ringwood and Fordingbridge.

Ringwood’s Lerys Campbell joined Fordingbridge, Breamore and Hale’s Nicky Davies and Rachel Noel as they were ordained deacons at Winchester Cathedral by the Right Revd Tim Dakin, the Bishop of Winchester, along with eight others from across Hampshire and Dorset.

The seven women and four men ordained at the ceremony, ranging in age from 27 to 62, came from professions including teaching and nursing before answering the call to join the church. Their ordainment follows two to three years of training and, after a year, they will be ordained to the priesthood.

Bishop Tim Dakin said: “I look forward to working closely with all of them over the coming years and ask everyone across our diocese to keep them in their prayers.”