Thirteen deacons will be ordained priest by the bishops of the Diocese of York over the weekend 3rd - 4th July 2021, each woman or man in the parish where they serve as Curate.
As a priest each will be able to carry out the full range of sacraments amongst the community and congregation, including presiding at Holy Communion.
The Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd Dr John Thomson, will ordain:
Bishop John Thomson said, "This past year has been really tough for our deacons, so ordaining these seven as priests this year will be really special, and I invite you to hold them in prayer as they embark upon a new chapter of ministry.”
She asked Jesus to be part of her life in 1987, but it was not until 2011 that I felt God calling her to ordination. She studied Theology and Ministry at York St John from 2012 and began training with the Yorkshire Ministry Course (now St Hild College) from 2014.
“I have relished my ministry, growing greatly in confidence through the part I have in leading worship, building relationships, recognising people’s gifts and encouraging them in their ministries and in relationships with members of the congregation and with people in the community.
“It is my hope that I may enable the body of believers to be as one, growing into a Holy People, a Royal Priesthood, using their unique, God given gifts to bless one another but also the whole community; being gathered around Christ and living a communal life with him.”
During a time in her life when she felt particularly unworthy and unloved, Kirsty had a profound experience of God through the Holy Spirit.
“The experience showed me how God saw me, how God saw all of us, and how connected we all are to each other; this realisation of God’s unconditional love forever changed me.”
Kirsty began studying with York School of Ministry (YSOM) in 2012, becoming a Reader (a licensed lay minister) in 2016 and attaining a BA theology degree, and gradually internal prompting drew her towards ordination following two years’ study with St Hild College.
Mark committed his life to Jesus Christ at the age of fifteen. He trained to teach in Oxford (where he met his wife, Emma) and taught for 20 years, serving for 12 of those as a Headteacher and Adviser/Inspector for North Yorkshire County Council.
They have two grown-up children and two dogs.
Mark trained for ordination at St Hild College in Mirfield, a time he describes as “A huge privilege to study, and a rich and blessed formational journey.”
“I feel sure that God’s timing has been perfect.”
After university she planted and led a Pioneer Network Church for 14 years: “Our heart was to build authentic community and be a church that was accessible for people to find God.
“An unexpected call into the Church of England that I couldn’t escape brings me to ordination; I trained at Cranmer Hall, Durham and am grateful for all that I learned, time to reflect and the friends I have made.
“I long for people to encounter our loving God and experience the transformation that his love brings”.
Ordination was not a career he considered until his first year of Sixth Form, when he experienced a renewal of his faith after a period of significant challenge.
He studied for a BA in Theology and Religious Studies at York St John University, before going home to Sheffield to work as a Parish Assistant, and then three years as a Conductor on Sheffield’s trams.
Phil returned to York for a Church of England Ministry Experience Scheme year, at the Minster and St Luke’s parish church, and was recommended for ordination; he trained at Cranmer Hall, Durham.
“My hope for ministry is that I will be able to help people encounter the love of God and grow to become passionate followers of Jesus.”
He is a long-serving church organist and choir director, having come to Jesus at the age of 17 after a service at Scargill House in Kettlewell.
A musician and music teacher, Nick was the Head of Music at Selby College until 2019, and continues to teach instrumental music at schools in the York area and at York Music Centre.
Married to Jill, with four sons and four grandchildren, Nick enjoys cooking, gardening and when he gets some free time likes to paint watercolours.
He studied as an Ordinand at St Hild College for two years, and at York School of Ministry before that.
“I love to see people come to know Jesus and I’m looking forward to meeting and walking alongside people on their journey of faith,” he says.
Angela has a background in education and family and community support, and has lived and worked in South Africa, the south of England and in Canada where she studied towards ordination at the University of British Columbia.
She grew up in the Methodist church and has served in interdenominational churches and ecumenical environments, bearing witness to the goodness and wonder, and also the welcome and wooing of God, through worship leading, teaching, prayer ministry, and small social action.
Angela says she finds “joy in nurturing the spirituality and spiritual formation of communities seeking to become places of welcome and belonging, and in facilitating opportunities for encounter and deepening relationship with God.”
The Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, will ordain:
Bishop Paul Ferguson said, "It will be a joy and privilege to ordain the candidates for priesthood who have been ministering over these last months in different settings within the Archdeaconry of Cleveland. Please pray for them all as they begin this new phase of giving themselves in service to God and his people."
He came to faith at university, and moved to York to complete an MA in medieval history before working in York Minster as a verger.
While working at York Minster he began to discern a calling to ordained ministry. He worked as a full-time pastoral assistant on an estate in North Shields to explore this calling, and was trained and formed for the ministry at Ridley Hall in Cambridge.
"I am excited to have moved back to Yorkshire to be part of God’s mission, serving the people of Whitby, and following in the footsteps of St Hilda and other great northern saints."
She came to faith at Mission England in 1985; in 1998 she began training with Church Army in Sheffield, and ministered there until 2015.
Vanessa is married to Jeff with two children, Ben and Alice, and is a Teessider born and bred. She trained for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham.
“I reflect and hold on to some words from theologian Philip Yancey: ‘There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and nothing we can do to make God love us less’.”
She committed to follow Jesus in 1981 aged 12, and in her mid-20s felt called to full-time Christian work: “I said ‘yes’ but God said ‘not yet'.” She continued her pharmacy career, ultimately becoming Clinical Pharmacy Manager at North Tees Hospital.
After a clear call she became a Reader (a licensed lay minister) in 2014 and began to consider ordination. She trained at Cranmer Hall, Durham; an “amazing experience” which helped her discern God's voice and find her security in him.
“I long to help others find their vocation, whether in secular employment, or in the church – and to walk beside them as they work it out.”
The Bishop of Hull, the Rt Revd Alison White, will ordain:
Bishop Alison White said, "It is a great gift to be able to ordain three Deacons from the East Riding. They have served faithfully through this strange year and now we pray with joy that God will give them all the needful gifts of grace to serve him and his people as a priest."
Her varied career has included serving others from waitressing to checkouts to museums; she holds a teaching certificate in Lifelong Learning and worked in a university library tagging books.
“But the golden thread has been working with people with disabilities – in the community, in the college I did my A Levels in, in universities and as a diocesan disability officer.”
“I prayed if this was what God wanted, 'God, if you want me to be a priest, you’re gonna have to make it obvious, but not scary, cos you know what I’m like.'”
She trained for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham, and hopes “To serve God well, to proclaim the Good News faithfully, and to seek the Holy Spirit.”
He is from York, came to faith as a teenager, and whilst employed as children’s worker in Middlesbrough in 2005, he received a calling to ordained ministry.
At this time, it wasn’t meant to be, but Richard’s pastoral nature and heart for children’s work led him to an enjoyable and successful career in primary teaching at Barlby.
Following contact with Archbishop Sentamu in 2017, Richard unexpectedly found himself in a discernment process, and a few months later, began training at Cranmer Hall, Durham.
Richard is married to Emma with three daughters.
He trained for ordination at St Hild College, gaining a Diploma HE in Theology, Ministry and Mission.
"I found the course a huge learning curve with my formation being both challenging and rewarding in my spiritual growth. I continue to gain from my training a deepened sense of connection with God through ongoing prayer and biblical studies."
Alan is married to Jenny with five children.
"I am excited to harness my secular gifts in teaching and pastoral support applying them into a faith-centred context and placing Christ at the heart of my ministry."