Bishops to ordain 14 new Priests to serve in the Diocese of York

Anne-Marie serves as Assistant Curate in the Holme and Seaton Ross Group.

A corporate accountant and Chartered Director, Anne Marie and her husband Tim have lived for 17 years in the community where she serves. They have a daughter and a grandson.

Brought up in the Roman Catholic Church, Anne Marie was received into the Church of England in 2016 and became a Licensed Lay Minister (or Reader) in 2020.

“The arduous discernment process of the Church and further training at St Hild College based in Mirfield helped to crystallise my calling and all its ramifications.”

Janet serves as Assistant Curate at St Peter’s, Norton (near Malton).

A Christian since her late teens, Janet had always assumed hers would be a behind-the-scenes role, so she found the route to ordination a surprising one: “But whenever I’ve doubted, God has made it very clear this is what I’m meant to be doing.” 

Married with 2 teenage children, prior to her ordination as deacon, Janet studied at St Hild College in Mirfield and enjoyed (almost) every minute of it.

“I’m really looking forward to what God has in store for me at St Peter’s and in the wider Norton community over the next few years.”

Helen serves as Assistant Curate at Clifton, York.

Brought up a Roman Catholic, Helen began worshipping as an Anglican through a church choir in the city of London in her early 20s and first experienced a sense of vocation to ministry around the same time. Life’s ups and downs prevented her pursuing this for some years, but during the first Covid lockdown, Helen realised that God wanted something more from her and started to explore ordained ministry.

Helen has worked in university administration for 20 years, ranging from undergraduate admissions to research support. She continued to work whilst studying for ordination part-time at St Hild College based in Mirfield.

Debbie serves as Assistant Curate in the Derwent Ings group of village churches south-east of York.

From a Christian family and with a background in retail and education, Debbie first felt called to ordination through a powerful experience of the Holy Spirit whilst working as Children and Families co-ordinator at St Paul’s Church in York but thought that her age was a barrier.

Married to Graham with four wonderful grown-up children, she trained for ordination as one of eight pioneer students on the ‘Caleb pathway’ of training, formation and discernment for older lay leaders at St Hild College based in Mirfield.

“It has been both exciting and challenging answering God’s call on my life and I am very much looking forward to this next stage of my ministry, and all that follows!”

Hannah serves as Assistant Curate in the Bramham Benefice (Boston Spa, Bramham, Thorp Arch and Walton) and in the Benefice of Clifford (St Luke’s).

Prior to training for ordination at Westcott House Hannah read Music at the University of York and enjoyed playing in a brass band and singing in a wide variety of choirs.

“I’ve always been in and around churches; I grew up singing in a church choir although exploring a call to priesthood still came as a surprise.

“Since then, I’ve spent three years at Westcott, and I’ve had a lot of fun!”

Hannah is looking forward to continuing learning about parish ministry and experiencing the joys and challenges that it brings – and to being back in the north and serving alongside the people of Yorkshire again.

Lizzie serves as Assistant Curate in Crayke, Brandsby, Yearsley, Coxwold and Husthwaite.

She grew up in rural West Sussex in the Diocese of Chichester and is forever grateful to the church community that nurtured her early faith and inspired her to read Theology at university. 

Lizzie felt the call to ordained ministry when she moved to North Yorkshire to be closer to family after living in London for 20 years. 

“My formation at St Hild College based in Mirfield was a time of spiritual growth and learning as part of a supportive faith community,” she says.

Lizzie will continue with her secular employment, which involves supporting people who are going through change in the business world; she has a particular interest in pastoral ministry and travelling alongside people as they navigate pivotal and everyday events in life.

Darius serves as Assistant Curate in Osbaldwick and Murton (near York)

Darius had a faith from a young age although his family didn’t believe in a God. At a traumatic time of his life he says that “I needed God and God came to me.”

He has been involved in schools ministry and particularly amongst those with additional needs for about five years and has trained for ordination through St Hild College at Mirfield: “I have absolutely loved it there. I have quite often forgotten that I have a disability.

“I now feel humble that even though I have a lot of challenges on a daily basis God has still called me to ordained ministry. My hope is that I am going to be able to help people tell their stories and walk with them on their journey.”

Dave serves as Assistant Curate in the Moor and Dale Benefice (the villages of Allerston, Brompton by Sawdon, Ebberston, Ellerburn, Hutton Buscel, Langdale End, Snainton, Thornton Dale, Wilton and Wykeham).

Dave’s faith was rekindled in 2012, and he then began having conversations with his vicar and curate to help discern in what direction God was leading.  Following discernment over the course of around ten years with the help of the York Diocesan Vocations Team Dave then studied for three years at St Hild College based in Mirfield, a time he loved and describes as  “truly formational”.

Dave currently works as volunteer coordinator for a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Charity.  Having enjoyed an affirming and energising first year he is looking forward with excitement to taking his next step in ministry.  He said, “I’d really like to thank my family and everyone in our Benefice who has supported me during this past year.  I’ve made many new friends and been made to feel so welcome.  I’ve also been blessed with a very patient team of dedicated people with which to work all of whom have generously donated their time and experience to help me on my way.  I could not have wished for a better start to my ordained ministry.’

Gill serves as Assistant Curate in Hinderwell, Roxby and Staithes with Lythe, Ugthorpe and Sandsend, near Whitby.

“Ordination was not something I ever planned,” says Gill. 

“In fact, I was completely resistant to it.  But God always gets his way. I left the church many years ago in protest at some of the things I saw happening which didn’t seem to me to fit with the idea I had of being Christlike. When I moved to Hinderwell, I found a church which was so welcoming that I was drawn right back in. And from there to being a Reader. And now ordination!”

Gill trained for ordination at St Hild college based in Mirfield and says she has loved every minute of the fellowship and study; as a former university lecturer, she relished the study. 

“Easter School was a very special source of joy and deep spirituality, in a vibrant community full of fun.”

“I am serving in my home Benefice along the coast in North Yorkshire, among people I know and love. Perfect.”

Liz serves as assistant Curate at St Francis of Assisi, Ingleby Barwick (Stockton-on-Tees).

She trained for ordination at St Hild College, based in Mirfield, from September 2023: “This is a wonderful place which has an ethos of love and care for its students.

“As part of the one-year Caleb project it was very intense with discernment and theology running side by side.

“However, I had much to gain and nothing to lose. I have received amazing support from my family and friends and my hope for my new ministry would be that I can work alongside my Incumbent to grow our church, serve the parish and be the visible presence of Christ in our community.”

Emma serves as Assistant Curate in Yarm with Kirklevington, Picton and Worsall.

Emma moved many years ago to England from Italy to study, met her husband at university and ended up staying. As a Roman Catholic the route to ordination was closed to her, so she served God as a wife and mother and became an active member of her church community.

The call to the priesthood grew too loud to ignore and Emma says God led her to the Anglican Diocese of Durham, who helped discern her vocation.

“I trained for ordination at Lindisfarne College of Theology, where I was nurtured and grew in faith, love and understanding – I could not have asked for a better college and for better fellow pilgrims over the last few years.”

Rosie serves as Assistant Curate in Hornsea, Atwick and Skipsea on the East Riding coast.

Rosie joined her local church’s music group at the age of 13 with her mum and was inspired by the Christ-like love the church family showed to her and to others.

“When I sensed a potential call to ordained ministry, I moved to Austria as a participant on the Ministry Experience Scheme, and for the past three years, have trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham.

“I’ve enjoyed being challenged academically and formationally; I’ve to Hornsea with my civil partner Hattie, and my hope is to continue to grow and to encourage others to grow in the Christ-like love my church family showed me.”

Claire serves as Assistant Curate at Bridlington Priory.

While her faith was nurtured in both the Methodist and Anglican Church, Claire’s love of Anglican Church Music developed whilst studying for her Education and Music degree at Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln in the early 1990s.

Claire sensed around six years ago that change was on the way and over time she acknowledged the possibility that God was calling her into ordained ministry.

Claire studied firstly with York School of Ministry and then over three years for a degree in Theology, Ministry and Mission part-time at St Hild College based in Mirfield.

“During the past year I have enjoyed getting to know individual members of the Bridlington Priory community and have attended a range of groups and activities, it has been great to be involved and sing with the Priory Choir. Pastoral visits have become a valuable and significant part of my ministry.

“Leading and developing the Messy Church Team has been one of the highlights of my first year at the Priory. Following my priesting I am looking forward to being alongside families who bring their children for Baptism.”

Pauline serves as Assistant Curate at Newby and St Luke’s, Scarborough.

Married to James with three children and four grandchildren who are all a constant support to her, Pauline is a retired nurse, currently an exam invigilator and has served in church as a Licenced Lay Minister (or Reader) for three years.

“I finally realised that God has been nagging and nudging me for a long time towards the priesthood. It was impossible to ignore his call on my life, so I decided to listen and follow his plan.”

“St Hild is a great and supportive place to study, and I feel privileged to have been part of a pioneering training in the Northern Province.

“I’m looking forward to expanding my ministry in the community with children and families.”