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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 28 February 2018. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Bishop Andrew and Archdeacon Olivia with the Deacons ordained to serve in Berkshire in July 2015.
Bishop Andrew with the Deacons ordained to serve in Oxford in July 2015.
Former teachers, a sheep expert, a nurse and people from many other walks of life were ordained as Deacons in special services at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. A total of 25 new clergy started new roles as Deacons following three special services on Saturday, July 4 2015.
Read Archdeacon Karen's ordination sermon here. ;
Bishop Colin and the Deacons ordained to serve in the Dorchester Archdeaconry in July 2015.
Below are details of the candidates, where they are to serve and a brief biography of each one.
Buckinghamshire
Daniel Beesley - Princess Risborough Joseph Fernandes - Horton and Wraysbury Christopher Lion - Gerrards Cross and Fulmer Susan Smith - Weston Turville Graham Summers - Penn and Tylers Green Jennifer Tebboth - Chalfont St Giles Ann Kember - Wolverton
Berkshire
Kathryn Harrison - New Windsor Nicola Hulks - St Luke's, Maidenhead Benjamin Kautzer - St Nicolas, Earley Janice Macdonald - Aldermaston and Woolhampton William McDowell - East Downland Benefice Elizabeth Ratcliffe - Christ Church, Reading
Oxford
Sheila Crowther - Osney Benefice Daniel Hames - St Aldate's Jarred Mercer - St Mary Magdalen, Oxford
Dorchester
David Bendor-Samuel - Beckley, Forest hill, Horton-cum-Studley, Stanton St John Erika Biscoe - Bicester Benefice Carol Hill - Emmanuel, Bicester Jennifer Morton - Dorchester Richard Power - St Paul's, Banbury Jonathan Roberts - Dorchester Susan Spankie - Long Hanborough Alice Venning - Blenheim Robert Wainwright - Burford
Biographies:
Daniel Beesley - Princess Risborough
I have been married for 15 years and have two amazing children.
I felt a call to ordination not long after becoming a Christian and I have been on an amazing adventure with God and my family since that time.
I love running and I am interested in holiness and discipleship.
Joseph Fernandez - Horton and Wraysbury
I am originally from Lisbon, Portugal.
After getting married we moved to Oxford and here we are twenty years later.
We have been blessed with two amazing children.
Life has been quite an adventure, and I have had a varied working life, pushing myself out of my comfort zone.
Chris Lion - Gerrards Cross and Fulmer
I am married to the beautiful Charlotte, and we have two young children.
I was previously a primary school teacher.
I love sport, particularly squash, football, cricket and skiing; and playing the guitar.
My passion is to see people released into the fullness of all that Christ has for them.
Susan Smith - Weston Turville
I live with my family, and attend church in Aylesbury.
I've studied at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and following ordination will commence a dual curacy at Weston Turville Parish Church and a prison.
I am passionate about prison ministry and I am currently working in HMYOI Aylesbury and Grendon Underwood Prisons.
Graham Summers
I'm married with one grown up son.
At 64 years of age, God's call arrived somewhat later than most but it proved irresistible nonetheless.
Apart from faith and family, my other main passion is cricket - for many years as a player, umpire and now just a spectator.
Jennifer Tebboth - Chalfont St Giles
I was born in Uganda of missionary parents and have come to ordination via Botany, nursing, motherhood (two boys) and a great deal of volunteering.
mostly in church.
I love the Bible, plants, people, green theology, cycling, gardening and walking and last but certainly not least my husband Lawrence.
Ann Kember
I have been a long time coming to ordination and my route has been varied and bumpy! I have spent most of my working life in journalism, education and more recently working as a debt counsellor. I am married to Mick, a children's author, and have one wonderful step-daughter, Frances.
Kathryn Harrison - New Windsor
With a sacramentally based spirituality within the liberal catholic tradition, Kate is excited by the work of the Holy Spirit and has a passion for ministry amongst those outside the church. She believes in grabbing the promise of life in abundance with good food, wine, friends and sometimes even knitting.
Nicola Hulks - Maidenhead
Prior to ordination training Nicola worked in science education and as an events manager.
She studied for a degree in Biology at Bristol University, where she began her studies an atheist and, quite unexpectedly, left a Christian.
She is married to Ben and enjoys cooking, craft and time with friends.
Benjamin Kautzer - St Nicolas, Earley
Ben Kautzer, originally from Rancho Cucamonga, California, moved to England to pursue a PhD and a British wife! He has trained at Ripon College Cuddesdon and looks forward to ordination on American Independence Day before moving to St Nicolas, Earley for his curacy with his wife Jo, new baby and cat.
Janice Macdonald - Aldermaston and Woolhampton
Permission to assist with the chalice, a part as first handmaid to Mary for 18 years in the locally famous Nativity Play based on the York medieval mystery cycle and Authorisation to Preach all contributed to moving this wife, mother and grandmother from the congregation to ordination.
William McDowell
William grew up in industrial East Belfast and studied History and Politics at university.
William is a teacher and started his career in London; during his time there he met Karen.
They have been married for nearly 22 years and have a daughter at university and two sons at secondary school.
Elizabeth Ratcliffe - Christ Church, Reading
Having worked in the Sheep Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Liz must be one of few ordinands with a knowledge of pastoral practice involving actual sheep.
Her passions include social justice, inclusion, and community, and she is looking forward with joy to following God's calling to serve the people of Christ Church.
Sheila Crowther - Osney Benefice
From a childhood in the Forest of Dean to the opportunities of Homerton College, Cambridge, followed by three children and a long teaching career, Shei brings her many and varied life experiences to ministry.
Regular visits to Holy Island and the Holy Land are a continuing source of vision and inspiration.
Daniel Hames - St Aldate's, Oxford
Dan grew up in Leicester where he studied social science as an undergraduate.
He has worked in student ministry, for a social enterprise firm, in wholesale fruit and veg, and for a theological college.
He is currently completing a PhD in systematic theology with the VU Amsterdam.
Jarred Mercer, St Mary Magdalen, Oxford
My family and I moved to the UK from America almost six years ago.
I recently completed a DPhil in theology at Oxford.
I believe theology is a practised reality lived within the Church for the world's benefit, and I desire to contribute to this through service in ordained ministry.
David Bendor-Samuel - Beckley, Forest Hill, Horton-cum-Studley, Stanton St John
I was brought up in South America and West Africa and love the outdoors, and the loving chaos of family and an open house. I have run a small business and been the director of a number of charities. My interest in West Africa continues through involvement in a Charity called Love Sierra Leone. I am married to Sarah, a midwife sonographer, and I share my working week with my children, Jonathan and Lois, the Church and my charity interests.
Erika Biscoe - Bicester Benefice
Erika Biscoe is to be ordained as a pioneer curate in the Bicester team ministry.
She is looking to build her ministry from conversations around the manicure table.
She feels God has called her to work with the broken, the lost and those who feel excluded.
Carol Hill - Emmanuel, Bicester
Ordination is the late realisation of an early calling.
I had an 'experience' of God as a child and I consider myself blessed to be able to spend my retirement years serving my community this way.
In my spare time I keep ferrets and walk my dog.
Jennifer Morton - Dorchester
I am to serve in the Dorchester Team Ministry where I have lived for over 40 years. I am a Trustee of Friends of Sabeel UK. Based in Jerusalem, Sabeel works for a just peace for the people of Palestine and Israel, a vision that I am passionate about. I am a retired accountant and have three grown up children and three grandchildren.
Richard Power - St Paul's, Banbury
I am married to Arta and we have three small girls, Lucy, Stephanie, and Jane.
Before ordination, I taught English in Greece, I researched words for the Oxford English Dictionary and I served in a church sharing the gospel with international students.
Jonathan Roberts - Dorchester
I'm 33, have a wonderful wife named Rachel, and we're expecting our first child in July. I love reading, writing, gardening, cooking, sustainable living, and the outdoors.
I have a deep passion for ethics, for social, environmental, and economics issues, for campaigns for peace, justice, and human flourishing; in short, for the Kingdom of God, and I believe following Jesus can help with that.
Susan Spankie - Long Hanborough
I am married to Gordon (an accountant) and our son Tim, 18, is studying Chemistry at Birmingham. I have worked as a bank clerk, a teacher and deputy head teacher.
Not many people know I have professional qualifications in Ballroom and Latin American dancing, although I am rusty.
Alice Venning - Blenheim
Born and bred in Durham my background is in marketing and communications, organ building and youth pastoring.
I balance running marathons with a love of eating (and feeding people) and I am forever taking photographs.
I trained at St Mellitus College and have degrees from Newcastle, Durham and King's College London.
Robert Wainwright - Burford
Robert was educated in Scotland before reading history at St John's College, Durham and Christ Church, Oxford.
His doctoral research was on the English Reformation.
He trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford where he took the top First in the Final Honour School of Theology.