Twelve new Church of England curates were created when Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, ordained twelve men and women from the Barking episcopal area as Deacon at Chelmsford Cathedral yesterday (Sunday 29 June).
The Barking area comprises the five east London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, together with Epping Forest, Harlow and Ongar in West Essex. It is one of the largest and most multi-cultural areas in England.
The Bishop of Barking, Rt Revd David Hawkins, is thrilled with the mix of the newly ordained, commenting, “This area is so rich in its mix of culture and traditions and I am delighted that this is beginning to be reflected in the backgrounds of these twelve new curates.
"Within the group there is a good balance of gender, of theological tradition and of ethnicity that reflects the communities they will be living and working in. Equally importantly, this group reflects the whole spectrum of the Church of England and that is very healthy and exciting. It’s a clear demonstration of the continuing relevance of the church and of Jesus Christ to people of all backgrounds and traditions."
At Sunday’s ordination service the 12 candidates from the Barking area were ordained alongside a further twelve people from the rest of Chelmsford Diocese.
Pictured (from left to right): Ken Ashton; Sally Lynch; Ven Elwin Cockett, Archdeacon of West Ham; Bridget de Mello; Gill Anderson; Emeka Ejinkoyne; Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford; Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking; Geoffrey Eze; William Obedoza; Shaun Moore; Andy Poultney; Sheila Fernandes; Lyn Hillier; Neil Walsh; and Ven Peter Taylor, Archdeacon of Harlow.