Three new deacons and seven priests will be ordained in the Diocese of Carlisle at a special service this weekend.
All will be ordained by the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, the Acting Bishop of Carlisle, in a joint service to be held at Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday, June 28 at 11am.
The candidates include Andy Ward, a Network Youth Church youth worker and families worker; Allison Lee, a full-time professional and former lay reader; and Sheryl Haw, an international humanitarian aid director and hospital chaplain.
Two will serve as unsalaried ministers, and one will be a stipendiary – or salaried – curate.
The deacons to be ordained are:
- Andy Ward to serve Kendal Helm Mission Community
- Al Lee to serve the Three Rivers Mission Community
- Sheryl Haw to serve Carlisle Rural Mission Community
There are 34 mission communities across Cumbria which are cross-denominational and mutually supportive groupings of churches with mission at their centre.
All of the deacons completed their training with Emmanuel Theological College, created through a partnership of six north west dioceses.
A deacon is one of the orders of ministry, to which all clergy in the Church of England are admitted. The majority are then ordained priest usually a year after being ordained a deacon and are focused on the leadership of a church community.
However, there are some who are ordained as Distinctive Deacons and they remain in that role for all their service. Their focus is on a servant ministry, and they act as a bridge between church and community.
Seven candidates will be ordained priest during the service by Bishop Rob. They are:
- Ruth Illman to serve Workington Mission Community
- Susan Cole to serve Grasmoor Mission Community
- Nicholas Cole to serve Grasmoor Mission Community
- Derek Lacey to serve Carlisle Rural Mission Community
- Charles Day to serve Binsey Mission Community
- David Flitcroft to serve Coast to Fells Mission Community
- Diane Gilmore to serve Two Valleys Mission Community
Bishop Rob said: “It brings me great joy to see those God has called embrace their vocation with passion and humility; after theological study and pastoral training, they now enrich the Diocese of Carlisle with their gifts.
“I am honoured to ordain them as deacons and Priests at Carlisle Cathedral, commissioning them for service in Christ’s Church and sending them to minister in communities throughout Cumbria. Please keep them in your prayers as they embark on this new stage of service.”
