A BARRY bread mill worker has spoken of his calling and his dealings with the 'daily bread'.

Chris Seaton, a Rank Hovis engineering technician based at Barry Dock, has been ordained into the Church in Wales - becoming a Deacon in 2010 and a priest in June last year.

Chris said: "If you told me when I first arrived at Rank Hovis Barry in early October of 1991, that I would one day be ordained into the Church in Wales as a Priest, no doubt I would have laughed as heartily as anyone!

"I worked in the engineering department at Barry for 14 years and occupationally retired from being senior engineering technician in October 2005.

"My call to ordained ministry has been a long, discerning process, sometimes of affirmation and, at other times of complete unworthiness. I still ask the question 'why me?'"

But Chris said he had the support of colleagues and was thankful to those in the department who had helped make it possible for him to pursue his vocation.

Chris said: "As a non Stipended minister (also known as self supporting ministry), I find myself having to juggle my time between ministry, work and family – and it’s not always an easy task.

"But I find that this balance in life keeps my feet firmly on the ground.

"One day I can be celebrating the Eucharist, visiting the sick or housebound, or officiating at a baptism, wedding or funeral.

"Other days I may be up to my elbows in flour, grime or grease as I do a roll change, bearing replacement or general engineering maintenance."

Chris said he sometimes finds himself 'ministering in the workplace', even though not wearing his clerical collar or vestments, answering questions about the church and his role, and he is often asked for advice on getting married or baptising a child.

"Many people today have little contact with the church except for the usual ‘hatch, match or despatch’," he said.

"Though there is no ‘direct’ ministry on my part, I do at times find myself having to put on my priest's head at work, even though I’m up to my eyeballs in grease and oil.

"It can be quite surreal, but it is an honour and privilege for me that others can approach me for advice and see me in a different light, other than the engineering technician before them."

And Chris added: "Every time I work at Rank Hovis I am reminded of the prayer offered over the bread at the Eucharist - 'Blessed are you Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made, it will become for us the bread of life'.

"I’ve often wondered if flour produced at Barry, or indeed any of Rank’s mill, has ever ended up in my hands at the altar – now that would be something!"