WORKING in church ministry part of the week and as a plumbing lecturer on other days may be considered a strange combination, but for Pastor Karl Todd, of Bridge Church, Workington, a new role at Lakes College, Lillyhall, fits well around his religious work.

In fact, he said, the balance of roles bears some resemblance to the life of Jesus, who theologian John Stott described as a carpenter by trade but a preacher by vocation.

Born and bred in Whitehaven, Karl, 33, developed an interest in Christianity as a child, joining a church youth club aged 12.

“The youth club was my stepping stone into the church. That started my interest in spiritual things,” he said.

After leaving school, he took a four-year plumbing apprenticeship with the Border Construction Group in Whitehaven.

“I never really felt I wanted to be a plumber but the opportunity arose and I made the most of it and decided to get qualified before making any other decisions.”

He then stepped away from the trade and moved to Nottingham with wife Lindsay, who he met at school and married when he was 19.

They attended Bible college, gaining degrees in theology, before moving back to Whitehaven.

Having formed close links with churches in Nottingham, they returned to the city and helped in the church while Karl went back to plumbing, working self-employed and becoming Corgi registered in 2001.

By 2006 they had sons Beniah, now six, and Caleb, four, and decided to move back to West Cumbria.

“I guess it was a natural desire to come back to the west coast because our family lived here,” said Karl.

“I also felt a spiritual, Godly calling.”

They moved to Mossbay Road, Workington, and began attending Workington Christian Fellowship, which has since been renamed Bridge Church.

Their arrival tied in with the retirement of Pastor Charles McWilliams and Karl applied to be his replacement.

He took on the role on probation in 2006, with qualified clergy monitoring his progress for up to five years before he becomes fully-fledged in ministry.

Karl continued with his self-employment but recently, with baby son Elijah joining the clan, he started looking for a more stable job.

He learned of a vacancy at Lakes College and applied, being offered a part-time lecturing job on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which he began last month.

Although he is still learning the ropes and training for the role, he is sure helping teach the 100 or so plumbing students will fit well around his other responsibilities and perhaps even benefit his spiritual cause.

“I think there are a lot of similarities between my jobs,” he said. “In theory the better I become at lecturing at college the better communicator I become at church too.

“It’s going to be fairly tough to get the balance right and I’m not at college to preach, I’m there to work as a lecturer, but I think I’m quite fortunate really because having the two jobs should help me to stay real.

“If trouble came it might give people at the college the confidence to visit and call for spiritual guidance or help.”

Karl said his situation was similar to those of many early Christians.

“Jesus’s first disciples were all working class people, although it’s maybe more unusual now for a builder or a plumber or whatever to be so devoted to being a Christian.”

Karl also helps with Workington Air Cadets, is a back-up member of the chaplaincy at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, and is interested in sport and aviation.

But with two jobs taking up much of his time, he said he was keen to spend quality time with his family.

“It’s making the most of the time I’m at home,” he said. “I want to keep Saturdays devoted to family.

“We try to give the boys as normal a childhood as possible really. They’re certainly no different from any other boys.”