20 deacons and six priests will be ordained at Canterbury Cathedral on 29 June. The service for deacons is at 10:30am. The service for priests is at 2:30pm. Both services are open to all and will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in-person.
This year’s deacons include a previous wrestler, police officer, army officer, youth worker, teacher and Reader.
Our new deacons are:
- Hilary Baldwin (Eastry and Woodnesborough)
- Stephen Brown (Cheriton with Newington)
- Jayne Edinboro (Whitstable)
- Robin Fassenfelt (Maidstone, St Martin)
- Norman Gilliland (Walmer and Cornilo)
- Paul Henderson (Walmer and Cornilo)
- Steven Horne (Ashford Town)
- Bethany Keenan (Ramsgate, St Luke and Ramsgate, St George)
- Barbara Lewis (Maidstone, St Luke)
- Bill Mills (The Trinity Benefice)
- Denise Parrett (Herne Bay, Christ Church)
- Dan Ralph (The United Wye Benefice)
- Clary Read (Barham Downs with Adisham and Aylesham)
- Jess Rodewald (Margate, Holy Trinity)
- Malcolm Sawyer (Walmer and Cornilo)
- Maria Stuttaford (Denswood)
- Angela Swindley (Canterbury, All Saints)
- Heather Tapsell (The Trinity Benefice)
- Sally Waters (Hackington)
- Vicki Young (Marden, St Michael and All Angels)
Speaking of her call to ministry, Clary said: “I have had three calling experiences, two of which I happily ignored thinking I knew best and truly believing that God must have got it wrong. The last one, which I affectionately refer to as my burning bush experience, happened just before Covid struck. This sense of calling was like an explosion of love and joy from within my heart which simply could not be ignored so putting my trust in God, I followed in my father’s footsteps, studying at St Augustine’s just as he had done back in 1948.”
Denise is keen to continue using music in her ministry: “I can continue to teach part-time in a church school and still use music to engage with those both inside and outside the church.”
Our new priests, who were ordained deacon last year, are:
- Hollie Butler (Maidstone, St Luke the Evangelist)
- Joy Dunton (Canterbury, St Mary Bredin)
- Seb Lundberg (Bewsborough)
- Lynn Overington-Hickford (Deal, St Leonard with St Richard and Sholden with Great Mongeham, St Martin)
- Sharon Paine (Elham Valley Group)
- Lawrence Tuck (The United Benefice of Reculver)
Amongst those being ordained are several people who have used the new Dover Pathway, a route to ordination as a Distinctive Deacon or Assistant Priest for those over 65 years old. It is available to candidates who have an established track-record of leadership and ministry in the local church and have previously undertaken theological study. Clergy ordained through this route will be self-supporting and will continue to serve in the church where they are currently licensed (or locally authorised) after their curacy.
For more information about discerning a call to ordained ministry, please contact The Revd Jon Marlow, Head of Vocations.
You can read our ordinands' biographies below.
Stephen Brown“My name is Stephen Brown. I live in Folkestone with my wife Karen. We have four grown children and five grandchildren. “I joined the Regular Army in 1975 and served until 2017. During this time, I rose from Private soldier to Captain and served in many parts of the world. “Throughout my service I felt God calling me, but kept putting it aside. However, He finally won - I had no more barriers to put up. “After my ordination, I will be taking on the role of Distinctive Deacon within the Cheriton Benefice. “This is something I have felt a strong calling to for a long time. I truly believe we need to be serving outside the church walls, letting everyone know God is there for all. Perhaps being a bridge for them.” |
|
Joy Dunton"My husband and I moved to Canterbury from London last summer. A highlight of ministry has been the friendships I have made both in the Church but also training alongside other Curates in the Diocese. "I’ve been given a lot of space and support to step out and to grow into the role God is calling me to." |
|
Robin Fassenfelt"I am currently an Ordinand training to be a Distinctive Deacon. In discerning my calling, I have always felt it to be outside the church walls. "The DD role has been described best as a threshold ministry, therefore, I am really looking forward to be both pastoral and missional on our large estates. "I am married to Amanda and have two children Warren and Jenny and love heavy metal music and Dr Who!" |
|
Norman Gilliland
“I've been in Reader ministry for nearly 30 years, although latterly that was as Emeritus. However, even as a Reader Emeritus I continued to get the call to serve God and was helping and serving in our two churches in many different ways. “You think, at times, that you're too old to be called to do more but then along came Dover Pathway and I heard God knocking on my door again. What a wonderful opportunity has come my way. Thank you, Lord.” |
|
Steven Horne"There's no greater adventure than to share the good news of Jesus, and to encourage others along the way. Prior to ordination, my adventures have, among many things, included: serving as a Police Officer, jumping around a wrestling ring, earning a PhD in Theology, working in strategic management, and writing the first comprehensive 'Traveller Theology' (Gypsies and Jesus - DLT Books, 2022). "Psalm 127:3-5 tells us that 'blessed is the man whose quiver is full', and with five daughters, one son, the world's most patient wife, and Egon the Border Terrier, I am most certainly blessed! We are all delighted to be heading to the Ashford Town Parish for our next adventure, where I will serve my curacy, with a particular focus on St Mary's Willesborough and St Mary's Sevington." |
|
Bethany Keenan"My husband Tom, our toddler Toby, and I are excited to be moving back to Thanet, where two of the three of us were born! "During my four years ministry training in Cambridge, I have loved getting involved with school teaching, youth initiatives, new build ministry, pioneering rural churches, learning new rhythms of prayer and worship, and being involved in our local community. We are excited to see what God has planned for this next stage in life by the sea!" |
|
Seb Lundberg"After a couple of years at Cuddesdon, training for ordination, my family and I moved to the beautiful parish of Bewsborough, on the outskirts of Dover. I am married to Mariann, and we have two wonderful children. "I have greatly enjoyed my first year of curacy in Bewsborough Parish and have been overwhelmed by the warmth and welcome of the community. All the events of recent times remind me, as I journey into priesthood, of the simple truth that it’s never done in isolation. So much of our formation happens alongside others." |
|
Bill Mills“I live in Folkestone with my wife of 45 years, Jennifer. We have one son and two lovely granddaughters – Lily 9 and Evie 6. “I have been brought up in the church from “the pram” when my parents took me with them to church back in the 50s. “I have been worshipping at Holy Trinity Church in Folkestone for over 18 years and have held several posts in the church including ALM and Anna Chaplain. My journey to ordination, via the Dover Pathway, has been warmly supported and encouraged by the members of all three congregations within the Trinity Benefice and I look forward to my future ministry with them and working alongside the existing team and to serving the benefice and community.” |
|
Denise Parrett"Having become a Christian on a Scripture Union holiday when I was 16, it seems that much of my life has centred on a call to teaching and using music in school and church. Here I have flourished yet God gently directed me into exploring ordained ministry. "Six years later and, having studied at St Augustine’s College, West Malling, I am thrilled to be starting a curacy at Christ Church St Andrews, Herne Bay. In God’s amazing provision, as a Non-Stipendiary Distinctive Deacon, I can continue to teach part-time in a church school and still use music to engage with those both inside and outside the church. "Married to Stephen and with two sons in their twenties, I also hope to find time to enjoy family life and squeeze in some pickleball and tennis." |
|
Dan Ralph"I’m married to Nat, and we have two children - Jonah and Ezra. We are excited to be on this journey of faith and ministry together. "Before training for ordination at St Mellitus College, I was a Youth worker and then an Ignite Enabler. I grew up going to church and am passionate about church being a place for everybody and removing barriers for those who might find church difficult. "I’m delighted to be serving my curacy in The United Benefice of Wye." |
|
Clary Read“I was brought up in the Anglican Church tradition as my father was a priest. I sang in the choir from the age of six and have had three calling experiences, two of which I happily ignored thinking I knew best and truly believing that God must have got it wrong. The last one, which I affectionately refer to as my burning bush experience, happened just before Covid struck. At the time, my husband and I were teaching in Athens, Greece and I was singing in the choir at St Paul’s Anglican Church there. This sense of calling was like an explosion of love and joy from within my heart which simply could not be ignored so putting my trust in God, I followed in my father’s footsteps, studying at St Augustine’s just as he had done back in 1948. “We return to Athens whenever possible and I have led some services there while they have been without a chaplain. “I feel blessed to be called to serve in the Barham Benefice once ordained and am looking forward to this new chapter which will prepare me for priestly ministry in the future. “I am married to Simon and we have four children, Jeremy, James, Toby and Stephanie. As far as hobbies go, I am also an opera singer and perform around Kent with Cameo Opera.” |
|
Malcolm Sawyer"I’ve been in Reader Ministry for over 40 years, and eventually despite me putting off the call, the Lord won. "I’m on the Dover Pathway, and will be licensed to St. Mary’s, Walmer Benefice. I’m already a Port of Dover Chaplain, Dover Royal British Legion Chaplain, and Kent Police Chaplain. I’m married to Sally." |
|
Maria Stuttaford"My faith journey has been marked by wondering and wandering. For years I ran up and down hills, in various parts of the world, shouting to God ‘Take my hands’ – desperate to know God’s purpose for me. "I remember the moment clearly in 2017 when I finally started to listen and said ‘yes’. It has been an unfolding journey towards an unknown destination. A constant is God’s love and ability to surprise me. I feel the weightiness of this calling and the amazing joy. The joy compels me to be courageously compassionate, bringing light where there is darkness. "I am married to Graham and we are looking forward to our time with Denswood Parish, in Bethersden, Woodchurch and High Halden." |
|
Angela Swindley"I have spent most of my life teaching History and Religious Education in secondary schools and know a bit about how religion can be regarded in the wider community. "I am committed to working with and alongside a diverse range of people and am honoured to be embarking on a ministry that reaches out to all sorts. "When off duty, I love walking to the top of a not-too-high (UK) mountain: Snowdon this summer! |