A FORMER St Gregory's pupil has been ordained at St Mary's Priory Church.

Father Matthew Jolley has been involved with the town centre church since he was a student and was ordained in a service there which was also attended by the Most Rev Malcolm McMahon, OP, Archbishop of Liverpool.

The 28-year-old has spent between six and eight years studying to become a father including around 12 months spent as a deacon at the Buttermarket Street church.

He said: "When I was studying I was living at home and I had started to think a lot about faith and whether I believed or not.

"I happened to walk past St Mary's and went in to have a look and it felt like home, like I belonged there."

As a deacon, Matthew, of Great Sankey, was able to conduct weddings, funerals and christenings but only a priest can speak a mass, take confession and forgive sin.

"It is still a very special and treasured role in people's lives. We are there at the beginning, the middle and at the end," Matthew said.

Matthew will move to his new parish in Fazakerley in Liverpool where he will spend around five years being an assistant to the parish priest.