Twenty-two new curates were ordained at Lichfield Cathedral this weekend, reflecting the rise in interest in exploring vocations across the Diocese.
The curates 14 women and eight men - marked the end of two or three years of training when they were ordained as deacons by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Right Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, at special services on Saturday and Sunday.
This years number of ordinations doubled 2016s total of 11 all of whom went on to be ordained as priests at services across the Diocese a week earlier.
The new deacons will start their parish ministry in a variety of places and roles, including five who are taking on non-stipendiary roles. One of these is Viv Starkie (left, with fellow new curates Benjamin Care and Jill Cooper), who will minister in Mid Trent, Stafford, after retiring from her role as a prosecuting solicitor.
She said: I never imagined when I was 33 that I would be ordained as a minister when I was 63. I was then a Prosecuting Solicitor with the Crown Prosecution Service with two small children. I only began teaching Sunday School to avoid the embarrassment of chasing around church after a toddler! As the years passed, I increasingly felt I should be doing more. Out of the blue, I decided to take early retirement. Still reeling from this unexpected change of direction, I suddenly realised that God was calling me to ministry and that my professional skills in advocacy, my passion for justice, my concerns for victims of hate crime and domestic violence, were all just preparation for a vocation in ministry. I still resisted: I was just not holy enough! I decided to take a Pathways Course and finally accepted that God was calling me to ministry. I have been fortunate enough to be appointed as a curate in the Mid-Trent Benefice, a rural team of 10 churches. Each church is unique with a wide range of services from Book of Common Prayer to caf-style. Ever since I embraced my vocation, Ive felt a bubble of joy within me.
Deborah Walton (seen here being helped into her stole for the first time by her training incumbent, Revd Karen Stanton), who takes on a new role in Kinver and Enville, is another to swap the court room for curacy, albeit after four years as a Lay Pioneer Minister in Wolverhampton.
She said: In the summer of 2010 I found myself out of work after a 20 year career in law. Originally I had qualified as a barrister and later as a solicitor. I started to think about the future and what I would like to do for the next 20 years. During my legal career I had always been involved in workplace Christian groups and was keen to encourage workplace discipleship and mission. I took a part time job working at ChaplaincyPlus in Birmingham as leader of the young adults group as this combined my knowledge of the commercial workplace and my passion for help and support people there. It soon became clear that God was calling me to have a different ministry and with the encouragement of my colleagues at ChaplaincyPlus and Birmingham Cathedral I started to explore my vocation. In the summer of 2013 I was appointed to the role of Lay Pioneer Minister and Team Leader at Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries, a Methodist/Anglican Fresh Expression of Church working with young adults in Wolverhampton city centre. I went to Bishops Advisory Panel (BAP) in the summer of 2014 and started training at St Mellitus College that September. The mixed mode training has enabled me to stay in my role at WPM while training. I am very excited about ordination and entering the next stage of my journey. I am looking forward to continuing my training in curacy in an inherited church context in a rural environment.
Among three new Ordained Local Ministers is Richard Hume (pictured with the Bishop of Stafford, the Right Revd Geoff Annas) who will combine his job as a funeral director in Crewe with serving his curacy in his sending parish of St Mary and St Chad in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. Richard said: Non-stipendiary ministry has a role outside the church. It bridges the gap. Its an incarnational ministry that goes beyond geographical boundaries. Its the Church going out and meeting people where they are.
Jassica Castillo-Burley talks in the video below about swapping the hustle and bustle of parish life in Bloxwich, for her new role serving in a stipendiary role as a curate in Whittington and West Felton, Shropshire. She said: I never ever thought about being ordained but its an exciting moment for me knowing that I have dedicated my life to Christ, not just to being a believer but sold and surrendered to whatever he wants me to do. Being ordained allows me to go out and minister to the whole wide world!
One congregation in Shrewsbury has completed the rare achievement of producing three new ordinands in the current deacon crop. Fi Iddon, Hannah Lins and Ana Lawrence all former teachers - count Holy Trinity in Meole Brace as their home church. Read more about them here.
Diocesan Director of Vocations Dr Lindsey Hall (right, with Diocesan Director of Ordinands, Revd Pauline Shelton) said the number of ordinations reflected the fact that more and more people are showing an interest in vocations. We are currently working with around 100 people who are exploring vocation either on the Pathways to Ministry course or by meeting with a Vocations Advisor. Lots of these people have come forward in the last few weeks and we are really thankful for the way in which they have responded to Gods call. If youre thinking about vocation do contact the team via email.
A full list of those ordained is here. And a collection of photos from the two ordination services can be found on our Flickr site.
Find out more about exploring vocations via our Vocations and Training web pages and meet the team at the Encourage Festival later this month