SHE used to laugh at Christians for being weird – now she’s the one leading the church services.

The Rev Amanda Sim started coming to church because her son joined the cathedral choir. She was amazed at how beautiful the worship was, despite her lack of faith.

Her pivotal moment came when she experienced the presence of God during worship on Good Friday 2013. She and her son Christian were baptised and confirmed together in 2015.

She trained for ordination while still working as a dental hygienist. She gave up that job when she became a deacon last summer and started working at All Saints Church, Catherington, and St James, Clanfield. This summer, Amanda was ordained by the Bishop of Portsmouth as a priest.

“I remember before my ordination last year feeling this sense of imposter syndrome, but the moment the bishop laid his hands on my head, I sensed God saying that he would equip me for this role,” she said.

“And this year is the happiest I have ever been, as well as the most stressed and tired! I have learnt so much. My incumbent is different to me theologically and in personality, but we complement each other so well. He is fantastic at enabling me to do things.

“I do think I have a natural calling to funerals. I’ve taken more than 20, and it is privilege to minister to bereaved families in their hour of need. And baptisms are full of joy. I do now believe that I am doing what God has been equipping me to do for the whole of my life.”