Twenty-one deacons from across the Diocese of Oxford were ordained priest over the weekend, marking the next stage of their ministry after a year serving in parishes across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
The weekend began at All Saints, High Wycombe, where candidates serving in the Buckingham Area were ordained by Bishop Dave Bull. The Revd Kalantha Brewis, Diocesan Director of Ordinands, preached at her first priesting service in the Diocese of Oxford, reflecting on the Church's season of Ordinary Time.
While the calendar may describe these weeks as ordinary, she reminded the candidates, their calling was anything but, encouraging them to follow Christ's example of humility by taking God's love to the lowest places and serving others with generosity and grace.
Later on Saturday, attention turned to Reading Minster, where Bishop Mary Gregory ordained priests serving in the Berkshire Area. Having led the ordinands on retreat in the days beforehand, the Revd Preb Dr Isabelle Hamley, Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge, preached on the story of Thomas after the resurrection, challenging the congregation to rethink his reputation as "Doubting Thomas".
Rather than dismissing him, Isabelle suggested Thomas was someone seeking understanding, reminding the new priests that "doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is its indispensable companion".
"We reduce Thomas to this one moment, this one story... Faith requires people to take a step into the unknown. Faith requires that people accept that they are not always in control."
On Sunday morning, the celebrations moved to Dorchester Abbey, where Bishop Gavin Collins ordained candidates serving in the Dorchester Area. Isabelle Hamley again preached, while the abbey's livestream enabled family and friends to join the service from near and far - from a full congregation in the diocese to supporters as far afield as Brisbane, Australia.
The final service of the weekend took place on Sunday afternoon at St Clement's, Oxford, where Bishop Mary ordained candidates serving in the Oxford Area. Before the service began, she gathered with the ordinands to pray that "the joy of the Lord would be their strength" as they entered this new stage of ministry. Isabelle Hamley again preached, returning to the theme that faith and doubt belong together, encouraging the new priests to embrace lives of faithful service rather than certainty.
Having served their first year of ordained ministry as deacons, the new priests are now able to preside at Holy Communion, pronounce absolution and pronounce God's blessing. During each of the four services, they celebrated the Eucharist for the first time as priests, sharing Holy Communion with congregations gathered from across the diocese. After the services, many also had the joy of offering a first priestly blessing to family members and friends as they celebrated together.
Ordained deacon in 2025, the new priests have spent the past year serving in curacies across the Diocese of Oxford. They now continue their ministry as priests, proclaiming the gospel, celebrating the sacraments and serving the communities to which they have been called.
The new priests
We give thanks and pray for the ministry of:
- Daniel Carter
- Joshua Harris
- Mark Payne
- Lewis Simonds
- Thomas Venables
- Lucy Bowley
- Matthew Clark
- Kasja Longuere
- Sam Jones
- Daniel Kim
- Anastasia Riabchuk
- Matthew Schrecker
- Bethan Willis
- Oliver Wright
- James Chal
- Gemma Ferrier
- Szabina Patel
- Claire Wren
- Phil Rowlandson
- Oliver Shaw
- Florence Judson
You can read more about each of the new priests on our website. Follow the diocesan Facebook page to see photos from the weekend.