Faith features

Many people take a good long look at their life when they reach a significant landmark like their 40th birthday - and the Reverend Mark Townsend is no exception.

He's decided on a radical change of career, leaving his job as a curate in Leominster, to become a full-time magician.

"I'm not running away, I'm leaving the licensed ministry for a few years because I want to take an opportunity to try to make something of this gift which has been around a long time.

"There are lots of Christian magicians but they tend to be very evangelical and use magic as a way of bringing people into the church.

"I want to touch people's spiritual side. Everybody needs a little magic in their lives and I want to push spirituality rather than religion.

"I'm not performing miracles - occasionally I do get people who think I have strange powers, and I explain to them that it is all about technique not special powers."

Inner magic

He has been a member of the Magic Circle for the past decade and has performed his brand of feel-good magic in front of nuns, African Masai warriors and congregations across the UK.

Revd Mark Townsend performing tricks

He says his brand of magic is more Derren Brown than Paul Daniels as it is based on reading peoples' character and finding their "inner magic".

As well as putting on shows he intends to lead retreats on magic and the theme of his book The Gospel of Falling Down, the Beauty of Failure in the Age of Success.

"I am not giving up my priesthood or my faith - I probably will come back because I love parish ministry, but I need to take these years out.

"There is only so much you can express within the general church scene, and this gives a lot more opportunity to be yourself."