Two students are due to represent the island at the national finals of an annual prayer book reading contest tomorrow (Wednesday).

Ballakermeen High School pupil Orry Wilson and King William’s College pupil Anthony Ranji will recite passages from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer in Worcester this week.

They qualified for the finals after winning the regional round of the Thomas Cranmer Prayer Book Reading Competition.

Entrants from across the country recite a passage of their choice that is three to five minutes in duration from the book, which is a traditional prayer book of the Anglican Church.

A number of island students, aged up to 18, took part in the regional round organised by the Isle of Man Prayer Book Society and held at St George’s Church in Douglas.

The senior class, aged 15 to 18, was won by Anthony Ranji with second place going to Alexandra Kirin. Stefan Fong was highly commended. All are students at King William’s College.

The intermediate class, for students aged 11 to 14, was won by Orry Wilson and second place was Amy Bloch of Castle Rushen High School.

The junior section, for participants aged under 11, was won by Rebecca Bloch and second place went to Elizabeth Mildwaters, both of Buchan School.

Commended was Talita Grobbelaar of Foxdale School.

Orry and Anthony will both compete at the national finals, which is being held at the Old Palace in Worcester.

Gill Qualtrough, the organiser of the island reading competition, said: ’The Isle of Man has been extremely successful in the national finals with Jemina Shepherd of King William’s College coming second in the senior class last year at Lambeth Palace, London, where Prince Charles presented the prizes.’