Isle of Wight teacher to be ordained later this month

Clare King had enough work already as head of science and computer technology at Sandown’s Bay CE School, but she would also dash across the Solent for training sessions on one evening each week.

She initially trained as a lay minister, but for the past year, she has been training to become a clergyperson.

The Right Reverend Jonathan Frost will ordain her as a deacon on Saturday, September 30, at Portsmouth Cathedral, meaning she will be able to wear a dog collar, be called ‘the reverend’ and lead services regularly. 

Clare King (Image: Church of England Diocese of Portsmouth)

Clare said: “Being on the training course was beyond my wildest expectations of awesome-ness. It was the most incredible thing in terms of my journey of faith.

“I’d leave the house at 6.45am for a busy day at school as a head of department, scurry across on the fast cat, spend three hours training, and only get back at 10.30pm. But I never missed an assignment.”

Clare’s grandfather was a vicar, and her childhood involved church and Sunday School. 

By the age of 15, she became consumed by athletics and did not re-find faith until she went to the US to study for her master's and doctorate degrees, attending a church in Alabama. 

When she returned to the UK, she met her husband, and they moved to the Island, where Clare joined Holy Trinity Church in Bembridge.

More recently, when Holy Trinity was between vicars, she found herself part of the team leading the church as the only person licensed as a lay minister to lead services.

After her ordination, Clare will continue to minister at Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge, as an unpaid assistant curate