On Saturday 28 September, 18 new priests were ordained at four services across Essex and East London.
On this page
Services and our new priests
Details of the ordination services and our new priests can be found below:
Colchester Area (Colchester Archdeaconry)
St Botolph’s Church, Colchester, 10am
Those serving in the Colchester Archdeaconry were ordained to the priesthood by the Rt Revd Roger Morris, Bishop of Colchester:
Revd Charley Day serving Colchester St Luke
Revd Emma Barr serving The North Colchester Family of Churches
Revd Emma Smith serving Colchester Christ Church w St Mary the Virgin, Colchester St Botolph’s & Colchester St Mary’s Wivenhoe
Revd Janine Wilde serving The Tenpenny Villages
Revd Judith Gibbons serving Brightlingsea All Saints w St James
Revd Noah Cockett serving Witham and Villages Team Ministry
Colchester Area (Stansted Archdeaconry)
Great Notley Church, 3pm
Those serving in the Stansted Archdeaconry were ordained to the priesthood by the Rt Revd Roger Morris, Bishop of Colchester:
Revd Hilary Walker serving Saffron Walden and Villages Team Ministry
Revd Nicola Horsley serving Black Notley, Great Notley and Rayne
Revd Tayrina Ferguson serving The Benefice of Coggeshall and United Parishes
Bradwell Area
St Andrew’s, Chelmsford, 10.30 am
(Please note this service will start at 10.30am after it was originally advertised as starting at 11am)
Those serving in the Bradwell Area were ordained to the priesthood by the Rt Revd Adam Atkinson, The Bishop of Bradwell:
Revd Sarah Rachell serving Eastwood St Laurence & All Saints and Leigh-on-Sea St Aidan
Revd Matt Ralph serving Grays North St John the Evangelist and Stifford St Mary & St Cedd
Revd Julia MacGregor serving within the Maldon MMU
Revd Mark Pape serving St Andrew's and Ascension with All Saints Chelmsford
Barking Area
St Edward’s, Romford, 10:30am
Those serving in the Barking Area were ordained to the priesthood by the Rt Revd Lynne Cullens, the Bishop of Barking:
Revd Bernard Eaton serving Walthamstow St Peter
Revd Jacintha Danaswamy serving Walthamstow (St Mary the Virgin, St Gabriel, St Luke)
Revd Kat Bennett serving Victoria Docks, St Luke
Revd Naomi Snelling serving Collier Row, St James & Havering-atte-Bower, St John
Revd Rachel Summers, West Roding Mission Partnership
Priesthood
Those who were ordained on 28 September, have served as Deacons for a year. Whilst some deacons are called to a vocation as a distinctive deacon, most deacons go on to be ordained as priests. The ministry of a priest is one of leadership and mission, helping all Christians to realise their potential as they witness to Christ. They help to build up the Church, through:
- the celebration of the sacraments (including baptism and holy communion)
- teaching
- preaching
- pastoral care
Ordained Ministry in our Diocese
If you feel that God is calling you to a role in the Church, there are many different opportunities. A good first step is to talk to your local clergy. You can find out more about Ministry in the Church of England, including ordained ministry by visiting the 'Exploring Vocations' page of our website.