WOLLASTON and Norton will welcome a new priest in September.

The Reverend Nick Kaleniuk has agreed to become priest-in-charge of Wollaston and neighbouring parish of St. Michael's in Norton.

He will be licensed at a service at St James’s Church, Belfry Drive on Tuesday September 3.

Mr Kalenuik said he was excited to move to Stourbridge from the curates house in Claines, Worcestershire, with his wife Alex and their two children Nicholas and Elizabeth.

Before he became a priest, Mr Kalenuik, who was born on the Isle of Wight, studied law at Liverpool University and was a qualified barrister.

He said: “Becoming a priest was the best and most unexpected thing that has ever happened to me. I had only just been called to the Bar and qualified as a barrister when I was called by God to become a priest.

“So I told no one of my calling. Until I met and fell in love with Alex, a fellow barrister at the law centre, and had to share with her, my wife to be, what I knew in my heart of hearts, that one day I would be serving God as an Anglican priest.”

With his wife’s encouragement he pursued his calling and he began part-time training at the West of England Ministerial Training Course, based at the University of Gloucester, and the rest was history.

Mr Kalenuik added: “Right now I can’t imagine a better place than here for my family to be and to grow and to flourish amongst the family of God in this very, very special place.”