A FORMER Tavistock College student has become one of the youngest deacons in the country at the age of 25.

Since he was 11 years old Will Sweeney knew he wanted to become a priest — and the first step of this ambition was realised when he was ordained as a deacon at Exeter Cathedral, after four years in St John's College, Nottingham.

On Holy Cross day (September 14) the cathedral was full to overflowing with 19 ordinands, from throughout the diocese, being ordained by the Bishop of Exeter, with huge support from family, friends and members of congregations from home churches.

The Rev Will Sweeney, assistant curate, is now undertaking his first ministry as deacon in the benefice of St Thomas and Emmanuel, Exeter.

Will, whose father, Dr Sean Sweeney, is director of music at St Eustachius' Church, said: 'The work of a deacon is time consuming but I love it.

'One day I will have a parish of my own and I am hoping to stay in the Devonshire area. I am under the guidance of the parish priest and we have responsibility for 20,000 people in the parish of St Thomas, which is one of many parishes in Exeter.

'I have wanted to be a priest since I was 11. I thought to myself "what do I want to do?" and went through the usual pilot and astronaut but I had a strong feeling that I should be a priest and it stuck.

'The life of a deacon is good fun — busy, but good fun.'

Diocesan director of ordinands, the Rev Becky Totterdell, said: 'Will was the youngest person coming through this year for ordination, but there has been a drive nationally and locally to encourage younger people to come forward for ministry in the church and we hope to see many more.

'He was encouraged and supported by his local church, St Eustachius in Tavistock, which is really important.

'Will has a great gift for relating to people and he will be a great asset in his new parish in Exeter.'

Julia Hurle, a member of St Eustachius' Church Choir, of which Will used to be a member, said everyone at the church was so proud of what Will had achieved: 'He was a "little devil" when he was young but he has grown up to be a lovely man — he and his wife are just lovely people.'