MANY of us will have seen a Gideons Bible while staying in a hotel room but not as many as us will have picked one up and experienced a life changing moment like Elliot Swattridge did.

The 25-year-old has just been ordained a deacon by the Church of England and has begun a curacy at St Peter and St James in Hereford.

Elliot did not always have a faith and grew up in a non-Christian household in Bridstow.

But it was a Gideons Bible, which are bibles given out free of charge at schools and can often be found in hotel rooms, given to him while at Year 7 at John Kyrle High School which set him on a new path and led him to become a member of the clergy.

He said: "I thought it was precious in some way. I put it in a drawer somewhere. And then I got it back out and started looking at it.

"I was the type of person that really liked to make sure I did the right thing all of the time. I felt like God was working through that process to bring me closer to him.

"At the start I didn't understand it. I hadn't had any background to it."

But he said it led to his baptism at Bridstow church, which then led to his confirmation and it was through the confirmation process that he learnt more about the Bible and from the congregation while attending church.

Elliot then decided to study theology at university and later trained to become a vicar following the encouragement of his wife Naomi's family.

He said his parents wanted him to be happy and have always supported him in his training.

Elliot hopes to help people better understand the Bible and make it more accessible. He said the bible is a lot more relevant to young people than they think.

He said sometimes the church follows tradition rather than God's word and he believes God leads each new generation.

Coincidentally his ordination happened on the anniversary of the founding of the Gideons.

Three other men and two women were ordained by the Bishop of Ludlow the Rt Revd Alistair Magowan at Hereford Cathedral on Sunday.

There are four new deacons in Shropshire - David Poyner, Sue Jelleyman, Alison Walker and Tom King.

Former human resources manager for Marks and Spencer Tim Starling will join a group of rural churches near Ross-on-Wye, including Bridstow and Peterstow.

Being a deacon usually lasts for a year before they are ordained priests.

Four deacons were ordained priest by the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Revd Richard Frith on Saturday - Father Matthew Cashmore (West Hereford Team), Revd Sam Mann (Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge and Little Wenlock), Revd Clive Munday (Bridgnorth and Morville Parishes Team) and Revd Rachel Robertson (Tupsley with Hampton Bishop).