by Lauren Fruen

From a watering hole to holy water – Faversham landlord Chris Maclean is making a career change with a big difference.

The Railway Hotel landlord will next year take on a very different role in the community as he finishes his training with the Church of England to become a vicar.

But Chris, who has been the landlord of the pub in Preston Street for six years, believes the roles are more similar than most people would at first think.

He said: “It is an unusual move. There aren’t many landlords who make the move into the clergy.

“But I actually think there are a lot of similarities between the two roles.

"They fundamentally involve working within communities, with the people living together in them and the relationships in that community.

“I have been training for the last two years and I have another year to go.”

The married father of four said his regulars have been supportive of the change, which means he will leave the hospitality industry after more than 25 years.

Chris added: “You expect people to be shocked but when I tell people they say they can see it working. It’s funny when people say that because it has taken me a long time to work it out myself!

“I started going back to church in 1998 but I have been a landlord for 21 years. I had a pub in Bridge and I came to Faversham in 2006. I will leave in May next year.

“I am excited for the future. There are obvious anxieties but it is time for me to move on.

“This will be an interesting chapter for me.”