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Twins quit newspaper industry for church ministry

A graphic designer at a newspaper publisher is giving up his job of 17 years to become a Baptist minister – as his identical twin brother prepares to do the same.

Archant Norfolk employee James Paton will become a minister in Ipswich, while his brother Scott, who works as a graphic designer at Aberdeen’s Press and Journal, is also studying for the same church role.

The 45-year-olds both decided on a change in career a few years ago, with James studying for ministry at the Suffolk Preachers Seminary in his spare time for four years and Scott going part-time in his newspaper role to study at the Scottish Baptist College.

It is the latest in a long line of coincidences which the brothers have shared over the years.

James said: “I was born 20 minutes before Scott and the rivalry has gone on ever since.

“At the age of eight we both became Christians on exactly the same day and were both baptized on the same day at the age of 16.

“We took our driving tests on the same day, but unfortunately I went first and failed, whereas Scott passed. The worst thing was being driven around by him in the car until I did pass.

“My golf handicap was four, whereas Scott’s was seven. The friendly rivalry also included girls, as we always liked the same ones.

“We both trained at the Gray’s School of Art and we have both been in very similar jobs ever since, myself with Archant Norfolk in the editorial, promotions and now ad production departments and Scott with the Aberdeen Press and Journal in Scotland.”

James leaves Archant Norfolk this week and will become the full-time minister at Zoar Baptist Church in Ipswich after an induction in September, after spending time preaching in churches across Norfolk and Suffolk for the last 11 years.

He added: “I am both excited and frightened at the prospect. Preaching to the same people twice a week will be very different to preaching to a different congregation once a week and I have taught myself to touch-type to help keep up with the work-load.

“I am also looking forward to the people-orientated side of the work and not just being on a computer all day.

“I have enjoyed working for Archant and will miss the people and the good atmosphere in our department but I am really looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Before taking up his role as a minister, James will be moving to Ipswich with his wife Jackie and children Robert and Rebecca.

  • James Paton, right, is pictured with twin brother Scott as they prepare to become Baptist ministers.
  • Comments

    localhack (11/08/2010 16:42:50)
    Good luck to them both.
    However, I’m not sure that coincidences is the right word to describe the fact that twin brothers both played the same sport, went to the same school etc.