The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, ordained 17 serving Readers to be Deacons in the Church of God during a service in York Minster on Sunday 13th January.
As Readers the candidates were admitted and licensed after a process of selection and training and have served as licensed assistant lay ministers, supporting local churches and clergy in a variety of roles including as teachers, preachers, worship leaders and co-ordinators of community outreach amongst people of all ages. After a process of prayer and discernment, the Archbishop ordained the 17 candidates as Deacons to reflect the development of their individual ministry, which is recognisable in the description of a Deacon's work used in the ordination service:
‘Deacons are ordained so that the people of God may be better equipped to make Christ known. Theirs is a life of visible self-giving. Christ is the pattern of their calling and their commission; as he washed the feet of his disciples, so they must wash the feet of others.’
The Archbishop of York said, “I have had the great privilege to meet Readers across the Diocese who are exercising their ministry both in the church but also reaching out in mission to their communities – supporting local community projects, working with schools and care homes, engaging with people who wouldn’t normally come to church. This missional, servant-hearted work is more usually recognised in the church as the ministry of a Deacon. It is a great joy to be with these servants of God and his Church as they take this next step in their journey following where he leads, and sometimes after many years of faithful service already. Praise be to our God who is always calling us onward!”
The new Deacons, who continue to serve in their present parishes, are as follows:
- Diane Berry serves in the Benefice of South Holderness Coast. With Alan she has two daughters and five grandchildren. Having first felt called to be a Deacon in 2008 when employed by a church as a Children and Youth Worker, Diane moved to Withernsea to be a Teaching Assistant, and after training and became a Reader in November 2017. “In early 2018 I was invited to consider Deacon ministry, ten years after I first felt called. Amazingly, God brings those he calls to where they need to be despite any obstacles.”
- Bronnie Broadhurst has been a Reader for 25 years and serves in Pocklington. A church member all her life, she sang in the choir at six and was confirmed at age 12. Bronnie has two married daughters and two grandchildren. Her ministry has grown to involve her in school collective worship, home communions, leading the pastoral team, visiting care homes, taking funerals, sharing Baptism and Confirmation preparation, and she believes that God has called her now to become a Deacon. “The call to take God’s Word into the community and be able to baptise affirmed this. I have been inspired by the Archbishop on his Pilgrimages and am convinced the Holy Spirit will give me what I need to follow God’s calling.”
- Janet Caldwell has served as a Reader at St Cuthbert's, Ormesby, for for 11 years. She first felt called to Christian ministry at 17, and after many twists and turns along the way she did not expect to be accepted in 2018 for ordination as Deacon. “My late parents and grandparents were crucial in the development of my faith and trust they will be celebrating with me on 13th January if on another shore! I first visited York Minster when I was four and was fascinated by Archbishop Thomson's dog.”
- Judith Dean serves as a Reader at Seamer with Ayton and Cayton. “I have been a reader for four years, and as my ministry developed it became increasingly out in the community, to be with and to support those in the more rural areas of our parish. At work, being general manager of a garden centre, I also have the opportunity to act as chaplain.”
- Kath Dean has served as a Reader for ten years in St Oswald and St Chad, Grove Hill in Middlesbrough. Married to Barry for 44 years, they have three children and six grand-children; family life is very important. She leads The Genesis Project providing the local community with various Kids' Clubs, a Parent and Toddler Group, a yearly family holiday at Wydale's Emmaus Centre and a free weekly Community Lunch. “I felt the call to ordination before becoming a Reader but the priesthood didn't seem the right way to go, so when recently being offered the chance to be ordained as a Distinctive Deacon I just knew that this was right for me.”
- Jean Fowler has served for four years as a Reader at Bridlington Priory, where an ‘inspirational Rector’ has allowed her to do everything from leading a Pet Blessing Service to preaching to hundreds of people at midnight mass. “When I look at my journey I realise that the steps that I have taken have always been taken through the encouragement of others. Of course God was behind it all but somehow I lacked the confidence to see in myself what he and others could see. It has been amazing and it is only when I sit and really study where I came from and where I am now that I realise that I was being prepared for what God had in mind all along. It just took me a while to catch up.”
- David Haddon-Reece serves as a Reader in Lastingham with Appleton le Moors, Rosedale and Cropton. An engineer and physicist in archaeological science whose hobbies include heraldry, music, recreational mathematics, clocks and country living, David's Christian faith was rekindled on early retirement in 1990, leading him to serve as churchwarden, organist and (since 2002) Reader, as well marrying the Revd Christine. “In my pilgrimage of spiritual growth, it’s been a real privilege to serve as a minister, as an Electrics and Lighting Advisor, and an Honorary Chaplain at York Minster. Ordination to Deacon offers a wonderful opportunity to make God even more visible among the people of His Kingdom.”
- Margaret Hall has served as a Reader since 2015 in West Buckrose. Describing herself as a ‘mixed-up kid’, she became a Christian at 23. “Suddenly, I was quite clear about what I was here for and where I was going - and that the whole world needed to know about this God I had found!” Margaret has found Reader ministry fulfilling and purposeful, and now feels God’s calling to become a Deacon as the next step along the path he has mapped for her. “My desire now is to be faithful to that path”.
- Shirley Hebden has served as a Reader since 2013 in Beeford with Lissett and Dunnington with Frodingham and Foston with Leven and Brandesburton, after a career in adult education working in prisons, college and the community. “I then felt the call to further develop my ministry in the community. This led to offering myself for ordination to the permanent diaconate. I have recently completed a B.A. in Theology, Ministry & Mission and enjoy times with family and friends, reading, walking, cooking for others and quizzing.”
- Dot Hicks serves as a Reader at St Mary's, Strensall, with two daughters and four grandsons. Her spare time is spent researching family history. “When I came to faith I began a journey with God. My journey eventually took me down the training route to become a Reader, a role I have enjoyed for just over four years. My journey did not end there; God had other plans for me, just as he has for every one of us. This time I was called to consider becoming a Deacon and so where God leads me I will follow.”
- Peter Higson became a Reader in 2006 in the Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway after studying at the Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and now serves in the Benefice of Middle Esk Moor. After taking early retirement from a career in banking he completed a Bachelor of Divinity degree at the University of Glasgow before moving to Yorkshire. Peter combines the role of Reader with volunteer work on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and believes his call to be a Deacon will give new focus and drive to spreading a Christian presence.
- Judy Lindsey has served as a Reader in New Earswick and Huntington for 27 years. She has been married to David for 48 years with three sons and seven grandchildren nearby. Judy retired last year from psychiatric nursing after 20 years working at The Retreat Hospital. “I actually felt the first call to ordained ministry as an eight-year-old Brownie during our monthly church service in Cheshire, so it is not a recent idea! My interests are painting, reading, films, theatre and travelling, and I am looking forward to returning to Jerusalem in April.”
- Wendy Plant serves as a Reader in Sherburn in Elmet with Barkston Ash, Saxton, Aberford and Micklefield. Over 40 years her ministry as a Reader has developed from mainly preaching and teaching to include work in the community, regularly assisting at the Eucharist in a nursing home specialising in dementia care and leading special services, taking school assemblies, Confirmation preparation and leading projects centred on the church within the community. “Hopefully my future ministry will gain from my experience as an active Grandma to 2 teenagers (involved in worship), having a working single parent son and being married to a retired priest as well as formerly being an Assistant Headteacher in a deprived area of Leeds.”
- Bob Sidgwick has served as a Reader in Thirsk for nearly ten years. An Army veteran of 22 years' service, he's now a keen biker and spends a lot of time with bikers, evangelising and talking about his faith, and serving as Chaplain to a branch of the British Legion Riders known as the Yorkshire Hooligans. Bob's wife Pauline serves as a Reader alongside him; they have three children, seven grandchildren and ten Great grandchildren. “I consider myself as a Christian under construction; God has not finished with me yet, and this seems the next step he has for me. During my training as a Reader I was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer; during my illness I knew people were holding me in their prayers. I do truly believe that prayer does work; God has a major part in my life and I continue to become stronger in my faith every day.”
- Ken Townley became a Reader in Wakefield Diocese in 1995 and has served in the Barmby Moor Group of parishes for the last 15 years. He worked for ICI for 40 years and retired as a senior manager involved in safety management. For over 25 years he volunteered in various parts of the health service. Ken and his wife Dot are active members of the Mothers' Union; they have 2 married children and four grandchildren. “I see being a Deacon being the next step on my Christian journey and an opportunity to bring the good news to the people of Barmby Moor group and the surrounding villages.”
- John Wells has served for 13 years as a Reader at St Mary with Holy Apostles, Scarborough, where he has developed a ministry outside the walls of the church as well as within. He has been involved in 'Fresh Expressions of Church'; with his wife and working together with other churches he has led Alpha Courses and Healing on the Streets in Scarborough for five years. He is married with two children and five grandchildren, and interests in sport (particularly football and cricket), music (as a listener) and theatre. “I have been involved in social action via the Rainbow Centre and as vice chair of Westway Open Arms. I am committed to introducing people to Jesus.”
- Sally Wilson has served as a Reader since 2011 in Danby with Castleton, Commondale, Westerdale and Moorsholm. She is married to Barry with two sons. Over the last couple of years her work has expanded to include working in schools, with the elderly and the wider community. “I felt that God was calling me to ordained ministry and when the opportunity came to apply for the diaconate, things all fell into place! I am excited but humbled by the chance to serve God in a different way - and to draw others to him.”