A NEW minister who previously worked as a designer has been inducted at Eaglesham Parish Church.

Reverend Jane Ableitner, who is originally from North Lanarkshire, and spent time in Germany and New Zealand before returning to Scotland, was ordained at a special service earlier this month.

Ms Ableitner said she did not envision a call to ministry when she was younger and decided to study design instead, despite having a strong faith background.

She said: “Growing up I wanted to be an actor and I was an extra in some TV shows and involved with the theatre.

“Before I entered the ministry, I used to be a very impatient person but I knew it would be a long process.”

After living in New Zealand, she returned home to Glasgow, working as a visual merchandising manager while still practicing her faith.

She said: “I’d felt the call to ministry, but I thought how is this going to be possible?

“Then I got a phone call about a job doing office management which was four days a week with flexibility to work from home and it was for a company specialising in detecting cervical cancer early - which was what my mum passed away from.

“I thought it was absolutely meant to be.”

She then went on to study theology at Highland Theological College before becoming a minister and she’d been drawn to the Eaglesham Parish because of its strong “church family.”

She said: “It’s turned my life around and it’s just been the best thing that has ever happened to me.”