A FORMER driving instructor and father-of-eight has become the first full-time pastor at a church.

The Reverend Paul Gardiner became the Pastor of the Sewardstone Evangelical Church, in Stewardstone Road, Chingford, at an induction service on Saturday.

The former Heathcote and Highams Park School pupil from Chingford was a driving instructor and examiner before becoming an Elim Pentecostal Pastor 10 years ago.

He currently lives in Chelmsford in Essex, but will be moving back to the area with his wife, Michelle, 44, and their eight children once they have found a house.

The 49-year-old said: “I am really looking forward to coming back to the area. The congregation are a fantastic bunch and because I am from the area originally, I have family and friends in the area and it is like a home return.”

Rev Gardiner said he and his wife have been blessed with eight children aged seven months to 16 years, after being told by Harley Street specialist doctors that they would not be able to conceive because of health problems.

He said they did not accept the prognosis and never gave up hope of having children.

He said: “We were over the moon when our first child was born. But then we wanted more and thought if it has happened once maybe it can happen again. So we prayed and fasted.

“I don't want people to have unrealistic expectations, but this is what happened to us. And if people want to take something from it, it is not to give up hope. We were a hopeless case, but here we are.”

Sewardstone Church started as a branch Sunday School for the Ridgeway Church in Chingford and the current minister, Pastor David Parker, was guest speaker at the induction service, which was attended by many people from nearby congregations.

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