priesthood

Comte’s Religion of Humanity had a priesthood of experts and a science-worshipping liturgy.

Where Frank veered into a life of teaching, Chris continued his path into the priesthood.

Typically, it’s an arcane and extremely nerdy process that occurs once a decade, after the census, and mainly draws attention from a small priesthood of line-drawing experts and political obsessives.

By 1991, the Diocese of Sheffield had fast-tracked Brain's route to the priesthood, allowing him to become ordained after just two years, instead of the usual four.

He says Bishop Snow told him the process to begin his training for priesthood – something he decided he wanted to pursue – would be "slowed down".