An Oxenhope woman determined to follow a vocation in the church has refused to surrender to a succession of serious illnesses.

The Rev Julie Roberts, curate at Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads cum Lees, will be ordained as priest on Saturday.

The day after her ordination as deacon last June, she received a kidney transplant from her daughter, Rachael. But despite being a good match, the kidney has started to be rejected.

Mrs Roberts said: “People do ask me how I carry on, but I know God is making me the person he wants me to be.

“I’ve learned I need other people and I’ve become much more empathetic with people who have any kind of weakness.”

Mrs Roberts only discovered she had a condition called polycystic kidney disease when she sent off her medical form after being accepted to train for the ministry.

Undeterred, she continued her training through the Bradford Diocese and Mirfield College while still holding down her job as sales and marketing manager for an international chemical company.

Mrs Roberts had to undergo dialysis three mornings a week as part of her treatment. Her life was threatened three months after the transplant by a blood clot, and further complications led to nerve damage in her legs. But despite hospital stays, she continued with her church duties.

“Because of my dog-collared visitors, it became known what I did and I was often asked to pray with people,” she said.

“Getting up the pulpit steps is far more of a challenge for me than actually giving a sermon. One time, an 84-year-old woman had to help me along the cobbled streets of Haworth to the church!”

Mrs Roberts added: “I’m more convinced than ever I’m in God’s plans, whatever happens, and I’m grateful for all he’s taught me in the past three years. Both ordination and the transplant have been life-changing experiences.”

She will be ordained as priest alongside Liz Moy, of the parish of Harden & Wilsden, Denholme and Cullingworth and John Ineson, of St Mark’s in Utley.