AN artist and sculptor and a poet and writer are among the nine people lining up for ordination in Hereford Cathedral on July 2.

A physics teacher and a chartered building surveyor will also be involved alongside an ex-teacher, former nurse and midwife, a head teacher, a farmer's wife and a mum and housewife.

"They are a wide range of people, ages and gender from across the diocese and beyond," said Marylou Toop, director of ordinands for the Diocese of Hereford.

"They reflect the changing patterns in ordained ministry with three of them taking up paid employment and the other six being volunteers or unpaid."

In Herefordshire, poet and writer, Judy Dinnen, will serve at Madley, Peterchurch, Vowchurch and Turnastone, a short distance from her home parish of Much Birch.

Susan Verwey, a former teacher who lives in Staunton on Wye will be curate at Burghill, Moreton-on-Lugg and Stretton Sugwas.

Rana Davies-James, part of the Borderlink Ministry Team will continue there after ordination. As a farmer's wife she has been involved in the Rural Stress Network.

Two women will be moving into the diocese after July 2. Clare Dyson is a former nurse and midwife who will be taking up a full-time curacy in Tupsley in Hereford. Her husband and two sons are moving with her.

In Leominster, Pam Sanders will be joining the team, moving to the town with her husband and three of her four children from Stroud in Gloucestershire.

The others ordained will serve in Shropshire.