The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell will ordain five people as deacons within the Church of England in York Minster on Saturday 27th June 2026 in a service beginning at 11.00am. The preacher will be the Rt Revd Dr Flora Winfield, Bishop of Selby.
View photos from the service here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCXQnN
Deacons are called to work in the community and assist in church; each candidate will serve as Assistant Curate in a parish within the Diocese of York, the Church of England between the Rivers Humber and Tees and between the A1 and the Yorkshire coast.
The five candidates are Phoebe, Dave, Oliver, Caroline, and Mike. Profiles of the candidates are listed below.
Archbishop Stephen said, “All of us are called by God, and in each generation God raises up women and men to serve as deacons and priests in the Church. It has been great to meet with Phoebe, Dave, Oliver, Caroline and Mike who will be ordained as deacons in the Church of God in York Minster this month. As they approach their ordination, I give thanks for the gifts they bring and the faithfulness they have shown. Please join me in praying for them and the parishes where they will serve.”
The candidates, and the parishes in which they will serve, are as follows:
Phoebe Power
Phoebe will serve as Assistant Curate in the parish of Marfleet, Hull.
“I first came to faith through singing choral Evensong when I was a student. A few years later, another key step on my journey was walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. I was able to deepen my experience of the Christian life through being part of St Luke’s Church community in York, and by volunteering at the breakfast charity, Carecent, in the city centre.
“After experiencing a sense of call to ordination I began studying theology part-time at York School of Ministry, and have continued my studies at Cranmer Hall in Durham. Before training I worked as a poet and creative writing teacher, and I’m looking forward to finding creative ways to help others encounter God as I start my curacy.
“I’m excited to accept the call to the East Riding and to get stuck in to living alongside and learning from the people of East Hull.”
Dave Kelsall
Dave will serve as Assistant Curate in the parishes of St Paul’s and St Barnabas, York.
“For the last three years I’ve been studying at St Hild in Sheffield, whilst also serving a placement at Clifton Parish Churches in York. In the summer, my family and I will be moving to St Paul’s and St Barnabas in York, where I’ll be serving as their new curate.
“When asked the question, ‘what are we excited for?’, I know it’s naff to say, but we’re really just excited to see what God has in store. I’ve learned a long time ago that God’s plans are always way better than mine, so I’m really excited to see what he has planned for our next season.”
Oliver Murray
Oliver will serve as Assistant Curate in the parishes of Loftus and Carlin How with Skinningrove.
Having not grown up as a practising Christian, Oliver came unchurched to faith as an adult. He is an award-winning filmmaker, having recently produced short films on some of the Northern Saints: “I’m captivated by how story, symbol, and place can open up deeper encounters with God.”
Reflecting on his calling, he says: “As a storyteller from the moment I was first trusted to hold my dad’s video camera, I’ve long been drawn to the power of narrative. Over time, I came to see that the Christian faith is not simply an idea, but something to be lived and encountered – particularly through the sacraments and through pilgrimage.”
Oliver hopes to use his creative work in the service of the Church, helping to communicate the living reality of Jesus Christ and the spiritual life to which the Church calls us, in a way that may connect with people today. Oliver is married to Bonnie, and they have two young children, Elizabeth and William.
“I am hugely grateful to St Mary’s Church in Thirsk, where I was first warmly welcomed as a new Christian, and also to St Hilda’s Church in Grangetown, where I’ve been on placement this past year. I am delighted to be joining Loftus and Carlin How with Skinningrove for my curacy, and cannot wait to work alongside and serve the church communities there.”
Caroline Wandless
Caroline will serve her curacy in the Rivers Partnership, Derwent Deanery.
Caroline says, “It will be a huge privilege to serve within the community where I was born, baptised, went to school, confirmed, on the PCC, Churchwarden and still live with my husband Roger.’
A retired Civil Servant, Caroline responded to God’s call in her late 50s. For many years she had a feeling she was being called to ordination, but always came up with many reasons why it couldn’t possibly be her. When the feeling wouldn’t go away Caroline finally took what felt like a huge step, to approach her Priest-in-charge for a conversation, which led her into the formal discernment process.
Caroline has undertaken her Ordination training through St Hild’s College, Mirfield, which she found “truly foundational” and has relished the rich, diverse environment.
“I believe both visibility and Community are hugely important. I am really looking forward to getting to know, and being part of all the Communities within the Rivers partnership, walking alongside people during the highs and lows and helping all to see, feel, experience and know the love of God.”
Mike Beresford
Mike will serve as Assistant Curate in the Rivers Partnership, Derwent Deanery.
Mike is married with two adult children. He came to faith in Jesus whilst at university. After a career in engineering project management, he became director of a mission that partners with churches in Malawi and Mozambique. To equip himself for this, he studied for six years for a part-time degree in theology at York School of Ministry. Although he had worshipped at a Baptist Church in York since moving to the area in the early 90s, he recently felt a growing sense of call to rural parish ministry in the Church of England. He retired in 2024 to focus on discernment for ordination and has been training since last September at St Hild College in Mirfield.
Mike says, “I am so thankful to everyone who has supported, encouraged and prayed for me in my journey towards ordination and parish ministry. I’ve been so excited to see how God mysteriously draws people to Himself – and it is humbling to be invited to step forward and participate in His ministry”.
