A PACKED Christchurch Priory was the grand setting for Moorlands College’s graduation ceremony honouring their students’ success.

A total of 75 Moorlands graduates celebrated their achievements and will now go on to take up roles as leaders, ministers, youth workers, evangelists, pastoral carers, teachers, cross-cultural workers and community supporters.

Around 90 per cent of Moorlands graduates go straight into work or further study after graduating.

The day began with a brunch for graduands, their families, the Mayor of Christchurch, councillor Trish Jamieson, and other special guests of the college, before moving to Christchurch Priory for the celebratory service.

Guest speaker, Canon Michael Green, spoke on prominent world issues.

Reading from the Bible, he said: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

"These are the words I want to leave with you today. If that's not good news, I don't know what is."

Vice Principal, Ian Coffey, said Moorlands prepares students for the challenges thrown at leaders through “an integrated approach to learning, that gives students a rich variety of ways to acquire and apply developing skills in real life situations”.

Founded in 1948, Moorlands aims to encourage students’ spiritual growth, practical skills and intellectual development through biblical and theological teaching.?

A reading was given by Fiona Castle, college president, and the awards were presented by Jane Cantwell on behalf of the University of Gloucestershire - the validating body for the BA (Hons) and MA degrees in Applied Theology.

The 2016 graduates and postgraduates were as follows:

Lydia Hartwell; Hannah Titmus; Joel Campbell-Brazier; Charis Cochrane; Joseph Barnes; Fiona Beale; Joseph Beaven; Richard Birt; Edward Briggs; Mary Browse; Nicholas Bryant; Morris Chibamba; Hollie Coombes; Gabriella Doyle; Annabel Fairs; Jennifer Farmer; Stephen Fenwick; Kirsty Ferreira; Diane Fincham; Robert Foster; Matthew Godfrey; Jonathan Hancock; Lydia Hartwell; Thomas How; Emily Hurlock; David Iacob; Nicholas Jefferson; Thomas Knight; Katherine Lane; Ryan Lane; Sebastian Latimer; Jessica Lee; Benjamin Maynard; Joseph Mudzingwa; Newton Ndlovu; Christopher Newman; Edward Owen; Naomi Parkinson; Simon Peacock; Lorna Randall; Thomas Rhodes; Jennifer Riley; Jennifer Rundle; Samuel Scott; Philippa Shemwell; Phillip Wade; Noemi Warren; Nadir Amouri; Sarah Allen; Philip Arnold; Peter Jouanny; Benjamin Philips; Hannah Rogers; Robert Sallis; Paul Scott; Geraldine Talbot; Ruth Brinkley; Dorian Dyer-Westacott; Bryna Barrett; Alexandra Anderson; Neville Jephcote; Alexander Brown; Judith Lindsay; Stephen Clay; Dave Fenton; Helen Hender; Michael Hutchings; Ricki Kendall; Anita Kerr; Myles MacBean; Keith Mitchell; Ruth Smith; Christopher Steynor; Julia Warnes; Stephen Wall; Robert Nicholas.