The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell will ordain four people as deacons within the Church of England in York Minster on Saturday 28th June 2025 in a service beginning at 11.00am. The preacher will be the Revd Leah Vasey-Saunders, Vicar of Lancaster at Lancaster Priory and Bishop-Designate of Doncaster.
The service will be livestreamed on York Minster’s YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@YorkMinsterOfficial.
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 four candidates are Sam and Hannah, a married couple who met whilst training at theological college; Peter, a Marketing and Communications professional who felt a call to ordination whilst planning music for a church service; and Karen, a Consultant Cardiovascular Radiologist who will continue in her role at Leeds Teaching Hospital during her curacy. Profiles of the candidates are listed below.
Archbishop Stephen said, “It has been wonderful to meet with Peter, Karen, Hannah and Sam and hear from them about their journey to ordination. I look forward to seeing how God will use the gifts and experiences they bring as their ministry develops. Their individual stories reflect how God calls people from all different walks of life.
“I’ll be praying for them as they take this next step on their journey, that the love of God may be made visible through them.”
The candidates, and the parishes in which they will serve, are as follows:
Peter Birkinshaw
Peter will serve as Assistant Curate in the Benefice of Northallerton with Kirby Sigston.
Peter has played in worship bands since he was a teenager and first felt a call to ordination when planning music for a church service: “I’ve always loved music, and I discovered how much I cared not only about the songs we sing in church, but how the whole service might help us encounter God.”
Having worked in Marketing and Communications, including for Riding Lights Theatre Company in York, Peter’s prayer is that he “can continue to use these skills to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ and help us see the Kingdom of God within our church communities.”
“I am hugely grateful to St. Hild’s College for their training and support, alongside the wonderful communities at St Barnabas and at Holy Redeemer, Acomb and Poppleton Churches, where I have been on placement for the past three years. I am delighted to be joining Northallerton churches for my curacy this summer.”
Karen Flood
Karen will serve as Assistant Curate in the Parish of Marston Moor.
Karen has always been a Christian, though her relationship with God changed when her first daughter was born 10 years ago. Reflecting on her calling, she said, “I found myself up most nights cuddling a baby, exhausted, and sitting in God’s presence – listening rather than talking. However, what I heard initially scared me a little! After running for a few years, I am now excited and at peace with where God wants me to be.”
She is married to Simon, and has two “beautiful, mischievous daughters,” Lottie and Sophie. Karen and Simon are excited to be staying in the Parish of Marston Moor where they have been serving together for the last 18 months.
Alongside her curacy, Karen will continue in her role as a Consultant Cardiovascular Radiologist in Leeds Teaching Hospitals for two days a week: serving on the NHS frontline as well as in a parish context.
“I have loved studying at St Hild College, Mirfield where I have been formed, loved and gained some lifelong friends. I hope to encourage others to love and serve God by being the people they have been created to be.”
Hannah Theobald
Hannah will serve as Assistant Curate in Fulford Benefice, York.
Prior to her recent training at St Hild college in Mirfield, Hannah studied at Trinity College, Bristol. She felt a calling to ordained ministry after university whilst working in a Starbucks and was “completely amazed in the way God was moving and using me in such an unconventional setting.”
Hannah is being ordained alongside her husband, Sam, who she met while studying in Bristol.
Hannah will continue in her role as a support worker for Restore York – a Christian housing charity – whilst serving as a curate in Fulford.
“I still feel a call to more transient spaces and am passionate about sharing God’s love to those on the margins and the most vulnerable in our society- a passion I also bring in my other job. I’m excited for this new season of training and to see how God might use me in a parish setting for my curacy.”
Sam Theobald
Sam will serve as Assistant Curate at St Michael-le-Belfrey, York.
Sam grew up in Norfolk and felt called to ordination at the age of 18, worshipping in a small village church with his parents and sisters.
After completing his degree in Theology in Nottingham, Sam worked for a local church. He then moved to Bristol to train at Trinity College, where he met his wife, Hannah.
“I am looking forward to getting involved in Alpha and being involved in people’s discipleship journey. Seeing people grow in faith and put their lives in the hands of Jesus is such a joy and I can’t wait to see more of that!”
