BEING a mum-of-four, a part-time French teacher and an active member of her church, Sally Wheeler had rather a lot on her plate in 1994. But God, it seemed, had even bigger plans for her.

"We had come to Chippenham from Berkshire with my husband's job and I had four school age children when I first received the calling to the church," she said.

"I had been a Christian since the age of 20 and people had suggested I enter the ministry before, but I had begun to feel that God was pushing me in that direction and when I spoke to my minister, he agreed and put me forward to see the Bishop."

Sally had a three-day interview examining her faith and spirituality and from there was selected for the training, which she would complete over three years to fit in around her family.

With four children already, it was already a challenge, but there were bigger ones to come.

"My children were used to my involvement with the church, so they weren't fazed by my entering the training in fact, Dawn French in the Vicar of Dibley even made them think I was a bit cool and gave me some street cred," she joked.

"They were flabbergasted however, when I found out I was pregnant again.

"I had actually entered the training when I found out I was expecting my fifth child. I was thrilled, but I thought, On no! here I am hoping to enter the church, which is controversial enough and now I'm pregnant it doesn't look good.

"I assumed I'd have to give my training up, but thankfully I didn't and as well as all the essays and other study, I soon had a new baby to breastfeed too."

Juggling her studies with her burgeoning family, Sally completed her training and her principal even ended up baptising new baby Samuel.

Now eight, he joined Sarah, 15, Peter, 17, Amy, 18 and Jonathan, 20.

Like many other women, Sally was ordained at Bristol Cathedral by the Bishop Barry Rogerson, in a ceremony which provoked fury in some camps which saw female ministers as going against the teaching of the Bible.

From 1987 women were allowed to become deacons a step towards full priesthood.

They could conduct baptisms, weddings and funerals, but certain priestly functions were still forbidden, including consecrating the communion bread and wine.

Radical Evangelicals said the Bible forbade women to become leaders. However, the Bishop of Bristol, supported the controversial move and 1,200 women, including Sally, were ordained.

"There were and still are people that do not agree with women entering the ministry," said Sally.

"Some people refused to come to church because of me. And I have had people get up and leave a service when they see that I am a woman.

"I find this painful. After all, I have responded to God calling me.

"But thankfully most people have been very supportive and some have even changed the way they feel after getting to know me."

Licensed at St Paul's Church in Chippenham, Sally, now 44, has many happy memories of her time at the busy town centre church and also some amusing anecdotes, mostly attached to weddings.

"One time a groom needed the loo just before the service was due to start but the only toilet was across the road in the hall," she explained.

"I took him across there, telling him it was a good job that I'd got the key with me or we'd have had to find a bush and other such pleasantries only to return to the church a few moments later to find everyone grinning from ear to ear because I'd had my radio mike on the whole time.

"Another bride was so nervous she couldn't get out of the car and we had to coax her out," she said.

"Then she felt she couldn't breathe, then she felt she couldn't walk I thought we'd never get her in the church but finally we did and she was able to enjoy her special day."

Sally also admits to once calling a groom Stuart Ann instead of Stuart Ian in the exchange of vows "That made everyone smile and we had to start that rather solemn bit again" she said.

And she also learned her lesson about mobile phones the hard way, after she asked if anyone knew of any unlawful impediment and the best man's phone went off in response. Two years ago, Sally and her family moved to Lacock, where she is minister at St Cyriac's Church.

"We love it here," she said.

"We have been embraced and welcomed and being in a village has also given me so many opportunities to experiment with my ministry.

"On Palm Sunday, we took donkeys from Lackham through the village, waving our palm fronds.

"While in May last year, we had a large open-air service in the village everyone has so much enthusiasm.

Sally revealed that the smaller community had also resulted in specific requests for personalised funerals.

"In one, we all drank a toast of pink champagne," she said.

"While at another we walked around the village, stopping at the pub to drink a half of 6x beer.

"Indeed, shortly after my arrival, one of the local landlords said: 'She may be a woman, but she can certainly do a good funeral!"

Sally said one of the most memorable highlights for her to date, was being asked to give the Millennium blessing at midnight in Chippenham Market Place.

"To find myself giving the blessing over a whole town at the start of the second millennium is something I will never forget," she said.

"Ministry is a huge privilege you find yourself involved with people at the highest and lowest points of their lives, and are given the opportunity to travel alongside them," she said.

"I struggle to feel that I've ever done enough though, because there is always more that you could have done, but it is enormously fulfilling.

"My family and I would love to be able to stay here in Lacock for as long as we can," she added.

"The members of the church are devoted. It is a wonderful community and even the number of children in the Sunday School is going up.

"I suppose in that way I am aware that I am a pioneer.

"I'm not stereotypical and it is good that people feel they can talk to me, ask questions about my calling and hopefully, in doing so, explore their own faith."