New Deacons begin their Ministry

With a bumper 23 candidates this September, the Michaelmas ordination of deacons at Christ Church Cathedral took place over two days. Families and friends packed the Cathedral to watch the ordinations by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard. The deacons will begin their ministries as curates in parishes around the diocese. Please pray for them.

Left to right, sitting: 1. Sue Burchell; 2. Jenny Alidina; 3. Elizabeth Baker; 4. Rebecca Bevan; 5. Lorrain colam; 6. Ruth Boughton; 7. Jenny Edmans.   Back row: 8. Jane Sherwood; 9. Tessa Kuin Lawton; 10. Christopher Hill; 11. Peter Ball; 12. Duncan White; 13. Jonathan Hawkins; 14. Tim Yates; 15. Kay Peck; 16. Mary Harwood; 17. Edward Orme; 18. David Bell; 19. Alan Crawley; 20. Mike Rayner; 21. Lesley Fellows; 22. Brain Wood; 23. Janet Binns.   Photo Frank Blackwell

Jane Sherwood
Parish: Oxford
I will serve my curacy at St Luke’s Church - part of the parish of St Matthew’s – which is a church-cum community centre with a creative heart committed to serving people in an area of deprivation.

Janet Binns
Parish: Slough
I am married to Glen with two daughters, Natalie (25) and Victoria (16).  I am looking forward to serving in such a culturally diverse area as St Paul’s Church. I’m sure my previous work with the offshore arm of Barclays Bank, meeting people across the world, will be beneficial in parish life.

Elizabeth Baker
Parish: Watling Valley Ecumenical Partnership, Milton Keynes
I am married to Robin and we have four children, James (27), Iain (25), Catriona (17) and Taran (16). After ordination I will continue to work as Director of The Well Community where I also live.

Jenny Alidina
Parish: Chipping Norton Benefice
I am very much looking forward to serving the community of Chipping Norton and finally putting my training into practice!  I am very grateful for the love and support I have received from friends and especially my husband Naj and my children Sophie and Josh.

Eddie Orme
Parish: Reading
We are delighted that my wife, Chris, has been invited to transfer her LLM licence enabling us both to be part of the team at St Agnes with St Paul and St Barnabas. We have four daughters and three grandchildren, with another due in November. Before retirement I worked in computer software development, Human Resource management and in Social Science interviewing.
 
Jonathan Hawkins
Parish: Aylesbury
My job as a Chartered Surveyor brought Jackie and me to Aylesbury some 23 years ago. We now have two grown up sons. I am looking forward to serving as my curacy at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Tim Yates
Parish: Great Chesham
I’ve lived in Chesham for 20 years, and am delighted to stay within the Parish while excited to be changing churches. I’m married to Fionnagh, and we have two teenagers - Josh and Sam. I work as a consultant in the construction industry and I’m keen on gardening and walking in the mountains.

Sue Burchell
Parish: Banbury
I am married with children aged 20, 22 and 23. My day job is as Definitive Map Officer for Buckinghamshire County Council, looking after the map of public footpaths, bridleways and byways. I shall be serving as curate in the Parish of St Leonard’s.

Lesley Fellows
Parish: Bernwode Benefice
I am married to Neil and we have sons Caleb, Ben and Aidan. With a degree in engineering and a PhD I have previously worked on planes. Then God called and my training began.  Bernwode Benefice here I come!

Mike Rayner
Parish: Oxford
As well as my curacy at St Matthew’s Church, I am also interested in workplace ministry.  In my day job I research into and campaign for tougher restrictions on junk food advertising. I am married to Nicky and have two children, Emily and Anne. 

Jenny Edmans
Parish: Bernwode Benefice
I am married to Kevin and we have three children, aged 14-23. Before the children, I trained and worked as a nurse in Oxford. Now we live and work on the family farm, near Brill, in the Bernwode Benefice where I will begin my ministry.

Mary Harwood
Parish: Burghfield
I am single, but have a large extended family. I am a retired Army Officer and have been working as a freelance Church Organist. After three years on the Oxford Ministry Course I look forward to serving my title at St Mary the Virgin.

Brian Wood
Parish: Blenheim Benefice
I thoroughly enjoyed my training on the Oxford Ministry Course and my wife, Erica, and I look forward to my curacy. I studied Architecture at Sheffield and shall be continuing the ‘day job’ lecturing in Construction Management at Oxford Brookes University.

Alan Crawley
Parish: Great Marlow with Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow and Bisham
I am delighted to be serving my title in the place where I have lived and worshipped for the past 12 years with my wife Margaret and children Catherine, Emma, Laura and Rosalind , who are in their late teens and early twenties.

Christopher Hill
Parish: Warfield, Bracknell
I’m a church planter, happiest on the edges of the church, creating communities that offer opportunities to find faith and fulfilment in Jesus.  I’m often found in Café Nero; dating my wife; Riley’s being snookered by my son; or London Irish and in Cyberspace (MSN) with my daughters.

Lorraine Colam
Parish: Tilehurst
I returned to Tilehurst, my childhood home, six years ago with my husband, Trevor and our children Claire (14) and David (10) and now look forward to serving here, hopefully combining my skills and experiences as a nurse with ministerial duties at St Catherine of Siena.

Dave Bell
Parish: New Bradwell
I live in Milton Keynes with my wife Kath and our children Saskia, Lydia and Tim. I will be serving at St James’ Church, part of the Ecumenical Parish of Stantonbury, and continuing as a full time teacher.   

Ruth Boughton
Parish: Benefice of Chenies and Little Chalfont, with Latimer and Flaunden
Born and bred in Little Chalfont, I have been working in the benefice since 1998 as the Children’s and Families Worker. I have three children, Ben (29), Daniel (27) and Laura (20), and two cats.

Tessa Kuin Lawton
Parish: Bampton, Aston, Clanfield, Lew and Shifford
Being in a close-knit rural community for the past seven years has encouraged me to accept the vocation I first recognised at the age of 10.  I feel privileged to have been called to serve this community and am passionate about the advantages of rural ministry.

Duncan White
Parish: Tilehurst
I am 62 and a Senior Manager in the Petrochemical Industry.  Married to Eileen for 40 years, we have two sons, two grandsons and a granddaughter due in October.  I was licensed as an LLM in 2004 and look forward to continuing my ministry at St George’s and St Mary Magdalene.
 
Peter Ball
Parish: Hanborough and Freeland
Married to Denise with daughters, Nicola and Catherine, I am on the staff of the Archbishops’ Council and am interested in ministry with young people across the Anglican Communion.  I enjoy watching  family thespians, some sport, and painting.

Kay Peck
Parish: Swan Team
I live in Winslow with my husband Michael and work as a supply teacher in Milton Keynes.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my studies with the Oxford Ministry Course and look forward to beginning my ministry.

Becky Bevan
Parish: Thatcham
I am married to Phillip and have two children, Lydia (12) and Harry (9). I worked for many years in book publishing, most recently as Publishing Director for a company in Oxford. I will serve as assistant curate at St Mary’s Church.