A BBC Radio Cumbria presenter has been selected for ordination within the Diocese of Carlisle – the Church of England in Cumbria.

Richard Corrie, who presents the station’s early morning slots and the Sunday morning breakfast programme, will begin training for ordination in September.

His path towards ordination is one of 21 years, having applied twice before, the first time in 1998. Despite that Richard felt called to train as an Anglican Reader and was licensed in 2004, meaning he could lead Sunday worship and officiate at funerals.

The 45-year-old was working at the fish and chip shop he owns in Wigton when the call came through to confirm his success.

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He said: “In all the excitement the ‘phone nearly ended up in the chip fryer but to be honest I wouldn’t have cared. I knew so many people had been praying for me, both before and after the selection process but I still couldn’t call it. When I was told I’d got through I was totally wowed and then I got on the ‘phone to tell my mam!”

The well-known broadcaster was born in Carlisle and attended the city’s St Barnabas Church from a young age, later moving to Currock Methodist, St Herbert’s Currock and latterly St Michael’s and St Mark’s Stanwix, where he continues to minister as a Reader.

He studied media at the city’s Institute of Art before first presenting on CFM. He joined BBC Radio Cumbria on a permanent contract in 2008 having already freelanced there.

After completing his training – which will be delivered through the God for All team based at the Diocese’s Church House in Penrith – Richard will be a self-supporting Assistant Minister. It means he will continue to work for the BBC, though his title will be the Rev Richard Corrie.

He explained: “This has been a totally different approach towards ordination but it is the right one for me; previously it was about going away to train at college for three years and then coming back to help run a parish. But now I’ll train here in the county. I’m passionate that other Cumbrians who feel called to ordination are able to move forward in this way.

“For me ministry is all about communication. That’s what I do through my job in the media and through my job on a Sunday morning. For some people who can’t get to church, I may already feel like their ‘radio vicar’, so I truly believe my ministry and my broadcasting will go hand in hand.”

The Rev Canon Peter Clement, Diocesan Director of Ordinands, who has supported him through the discernment process, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Richard has successfully completed the selection process. At times this has been a challenging journey for him. He has experienced knock-backs but his faith has always remained steadfast and I know he understands that it has been God’s timing to get him to where he is now.

“I’m thoroughly looking forward to supporting Richard and all of our other wonderful ordinands as they seek to live out God’s purpose for their lives through new ministry.”

He is one of seven people to be selected for ordination within the county, and the news has also been welcomed by colleagues at BBC Radio Cumbria.

Graham Moss, Assistant Editor at the station, said: “Richard and I have worked together for over twenty years and for as long as I’ve known him he’s been talking about pursuing this calling. I’ve shared the disappointments when things haven’t progressed, so I’m delighted that he’s finally been selected.

“We both know that the hard work starts here and that Richard has to combine this with his day job of producing and presenting radio programmes, but everyone at BBC Radio Cumbria is really pleased for him.”