76019-26A SCIENTIST and government adviser on genetics has been named as the next Bishop of Swindon.

The Rev Lee Rayfield, 49, was announced as the town's next bishop at a special event at the Ridgeway School in Wroughton.

He has a PhD in immunology but in the 1980s he decided to devote his life to God.

Dr Rayfield said: "Science gave me great enjoyment but I got a really strong call from God in September 1987, it was a very clear call that told me I should be doing a different service."

But he has kept up his interest in science.

He has also written more than 30 scientific papers and articles for academic journals and sits on the UK Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, which advises the government on clinical research in the field of gene therapy, and is a member of the Society of Ordained Scientists, a group, which seeks to connect the church with science and technology.

He said he had strong feelings about cloning but says he fully supported developments if they "alleviated human suffering."

Dr Rayfield, currently the Area Dean of Maidenhead and Windsor, will take up his duties as the second Bishop of Swindon in the summer after his consecration by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, on June 8.

Dr Rayfield also said that he did not see divorce as an "unforgivable sin" and said he was pleased about the forthcoming marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles, announced on Thursday.

He did point out that even though Windsor was in his diocese, he won't get to go to the wedding of Charles and Camilla as the Royal family have their own clergy staff.

Once consecrated, he will become a suffragan bishop, and despite his title his duties will take him across the Diocese of Bristol up to southern Gloucestershire and even Bristol if duties require.

He said: "It strikes me that we live in a country that is wealthier than it has ever been, but the levels of stress, debts, breakdowns of relationships and teenage pregnancies are at incredible levels, not just in Swindon but anywhere else in the rest of England.

"We need to be addressing the Christian message because it can have a tremendous effect on people's lives and community life."

Bishop Mike Hill, the Bishop of Bristol, said he was sure that Dr Rayfield was the right man for job.

He said: "We started out with 55 candidates and that was whittled down to eight to 10 then we made a shortlist of three, which later reduced to two."

"We submitted the names to Downing Street, and they chose the name from the top of the list, the preferred choice."

"Lee joins us at an interesting time in the life of the church and we wanted a leader in mission, he also has a good track record in leadership skills, while his work in other areas has being admired by those high up in the church."

Even before making a career of the church, he was a committed Christian,

He is married is married to wife Liz, who works a learning support assistant and they have three children, two sons and a daughter.

As well as keeping fit, playing tennis, football and gold, he also enjoys watching films and making cider.

He replaces the Rt Rev Michael Doe who left Swindon in 2004 to become director of United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in London.

Hot water over Santa

IT'S NOT the first time Dr Rayfield has hit the headlines.

In 2002 it was revealed that during a Christmas carol service at St Mary's in Maidenhead he told children that it was scientifically impossible for Father Christmas to deliver so many presents so quickly, even stating that the reindeer would burst into flames if they had to travel at the speeds necessary.

However he later admitted that he made a serious misjudgment in telling the children, some of whom were as young as five-years-old.

He said: "Even when I was there I did not twig, I am mortified and appreciate I have put some parents in a difficult position with a lot of explaining to do."

Anthony Osborne