Dunbartonshire newspaper journalist Tina Kemp has become a Church of Scotland auxiliary minister.

Tina, (44), who works for The Lennox, was licensed at her home church of St Andrew's in Bellsmyre during a service attended by 140 friends and family.

As an auxiliary minister Tina, a former editor of the Dumbarton Reporter, will be able to carry out the same duties and functions as full-time ordained clergy, but will be unpaid and work part-time to allow her to continue with her 'day job' as a reporter.

Before taking on the ministry role, Tina studied for three years on a distance learning course, with tutorials, essays and exams filling almost every night and attachments at various churches tying up most of her weekends.

Tina said: "It worked quite well and I have an understanding boss. It took up pretty much all of my spare time, but I like to keep busy!"

And the hard work is not yet over as Tina will now begin a final year of training, serving as a probationer minister before being ordained and inducted to a church in the Presbytery of Dumbarton.

Tina said: "I've been involved in the church for a number of years, and as time went on I felt I wanted to make more of a commitment.

"I still enjoy being a journalist as much as when I first started and didn't want to give up my day job, so this allows me to have the best of both worlds."

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk