AN Accrington church is to have a full time pastor for the first time in 12 years after an increase in its congregation.

Steve Thomasson has served as the minister-in-training at Ernest Street Baptist Church for the past three years while studying at Spurgeon's College, in London.

Church secretary Carlton Cooper said Steve's popularity and the work he had done while serving at Ernest Street made him the clear choice to become its full time minister.

He was ordained at his sponsoring church, Kay Street Baptist, in Rawtenstall, last month and will be inducted as pastor at Ernest Street in September.

Steve, 44, who lives with his wife Chris, 45, and their three children Lizzie, 18, Annie, 15, and Jonny, 13, was a senior nurse in critical care at Hope Hospital, Salford, before answering the call to train as a Baptist minister three years ago.

The family live in Heys Street, Rawtenstall, but are in the process of moving to Accrington for the start of Steve's new ministry.

Funding for his full-time appointment at Ernest Street Baptist Church has come from the Baptist Home Mission because of the church's growing congre-gation, which stands at around 80 worshippers.

Steve, who has attended Kay Street Baptist Church for the last 16 years and was part of its leadership team, said: "Ernest Street took me on part time as a student three years ago because they hadn't had a minister for nearly 12 years.

"They had up-dated the building a bit, but needed to develop the ministry.

"Little by little the fellowship has grown to the stage where they feel the can take that leap of faith and have a full time minister and the church was in agreement that I was the man for the job.

"We have around 80 people on Sunday mornings and we have got a really good group of young people who are keeping the church alive."

Despite a career as a nurse, which saw him working in a hospital in Jerusalem for four years, Steve is certain that training to become a minister was the right decision.

He said: "We have only got one life and we have got to do what we think is right.

"As much as I loved nursing this felt like the right thing to do."

Steve's induction service will take place at Ernest Street Baptist Church on Sunday, September 10.