Shirebrook couple Carl and Beverley Wardley will swap science for sermons as they train for full-time Christian ministry in The Salvation Army.  

From late-September, Carl (34), a scientist for Nottingham City Hospital, and his wife Beverley (24) will spend two years in training at the William Booth College, in Camberwell, South London, named after Nottingham-born William Booth who founded the Christian church and charity.

Carl is currently a Quality Manager for Pathology at Nottingham City Hospital and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science. As a child of Salvation Army ministers, he spent 6 years in Ghana, 7 years in Zimbabwe and 4 years in East Africa. Beverley is a full-time mum to Sophie (4) and Grace (nearly 2). The Wardleys are members of The Salvation Army and worship at the Shirebrook church on Patchwork Row.

After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University in 1994, Carl gained an MSc in Pathological Science from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University in 1997. He obtained a post at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, in 1994, working as a State Registered Biomedical Scientist. In 2001, Carl came to Clinical Pathology at Nottingham City Hospital as a Senior Biomedical Scientist and was made Quality Manager for Pathology at Nottingham City Hospital in 2004.

Explaining the decision to give up a so-called 'normal' life, Carl says: "Over the last two years God has spoken in circumstances, through people and to me, and has continually and unrelentingly guided me towards full-time ministry, which is an honour. Having a successful career or being a good scientist is not important as what matters is being obedient to God. Beverley and I look forward to God's leading and seeing what He has planned for our lives."

The Wardleys will move to London in late September where they will become part of the 'God's Fellow Workers' session at the William Booth College - a biblical reference to the apostle Paul's encouragement of the early church (2 Corinthians 6:1). There they will undertake academic and practical skills training to prepare them for Christian leadership. The two-year course includes study modules in the Old and New Testaments, church doctrine, mission and evangelism, and they will also undertake short-term placements where they will develop practical skills of church leadership and community ministry.

If successful, at the end of their studies the couple will attain either a Certificate or Diploma in Salvation Army Officership issued by the Cheltenham and Gloucester University.