Diocese of Chichester sets dates for delayed ordination of new deacons and priests

The Diocese of Chichester has announced when the ordination of new deacons and priests will take place following the postponement the services due to the closure of church buildings.
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Ordination services to both the diaconate and priesthood usually take place at the end of this month.

When they have completed their initial ministerial training women and men are first ordained deacon before usually being ordained as priests the following year.

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Saturday, October 3, is the new planned date for the ordination of deacons by the Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, in Chichester Cathedral.

The ordination of deacons by the Bishop of Chichester will take place at Chichester Cathedral in early autumnThe ordination of deacons by the Bishop of Chichester will take place at Chichester Cathedral in early autumn
The ordination of deacons by the Bishop of Chichester will take place at Chichester Cathedral in early autumn

The logistics around the service, how many people can attend, will be firmed up nearer the time subject to the national situation and government advice.

All those ordained will serve as Curates in parishes across the Diocese.

The previous weekend (September 26/27) is now set aside for the ordination of new priests.

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These services take place in designated parish churches across the Diocese at which small groups of candidates are ordained together.

These services are then followed by special services in each of the newly ordained priests’ individual churches.

They can then celebrate the Eucharist for the first time surrounded by the people they serve in their parishes.

Canon Rebecca Swyer, Diocesan Director of Apostolic Life, said candidates who had expected to start as new clergy this month following their ordination as deacons would instead by licensed as Lay Workers by the Bishop of Chichester.

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She said: “This will allow them to settle into their parishes and begin to get to know people they will serve over the summer as far as current restrictions allow.

“It will also give them the Bishop’s permission to take some role in leading worship and to preach.”

Canon Swyer said preparing for ordination is always a challenging time which can be quite daunting ‘but this year, even more so, because of what we have all been living through’.

Those serving in stipendiary posts who have moved into the Diocese have had to move home, settle their families into new communities and get to know new colleagues online as the recent Covid-19 restrictions began to be eased.

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Those to be ordained deacon in 2020: James Bailey serving at St Peter’s, Brighton; Samuel Buck serving at St John’s, Crawley; William (Josh) Delia serving at St John the Divine, West Worthing and St Andrew’s Worthing; Stephen Emerson serving at St Mary de Haura, Shoreham-by-Sea; David Griffin serving at Hailsham; Jon Harley serving at St Matthias, Brighton; Benjamin Lucas serving at St Margaret’s, Angmering; Benjamin Martin serving at Bishop Hannington, Hove; Richard Merrick serving at St Cuthman’s. Whitehawk; Hannah Milne serving at St Peter’s, Brighton; Patrick Pearson-Miles serving at Chantonbury Churches; Mark Rodger serving at All Saints, Wick, Littlehampton; Greta Sawyer serving at Worth with Maidenbower; Sarah Van den driessche serving at St Mary’s, Kemptown; Heather Wilkin serving at St Peter’s Henfield.

Those to be ordained as priest in 2020: Ms Alex Wheeler serving at St John the Evan, Copthorne; Mr Ali Marshall serving at St Peter’s Brighton; Dominik Chmielewski serving at St Nicholas Arundel; Mrs Elizabeth Jinks serving at St Mark’s Holbrook; Mrs Emma Ham-Riche serving at East Preston; Mrs Lizzi Green serving at St Albans, Gossops Green & Bewbush; Mike Milmine serving at St Pancras, Chichester; Neill Stannard serving at St Matthew’s Worthing; Mrs Sally Mitchell serving at West Grinstead; Mrs Sandi Wickens serving at Rotherfield; Mrs Shirley Tupper serving at Beeding + Bramber w Botolphs; Mrs Torhild Fiskeaunet serving at Heathfield; Tom Crowley serving at St Saviours Eastbourne; Thomas Fink-Jensen serving at St Michael’s & All Angels.

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