New Deacons take up posts in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire

THE Bishop of Oxford ordained 19 new clergy at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday 5 July 2014. The Deacons have now taken up their posts as curates in the Diocese of Oxford.

From left, Ben Drury, Jo Ellington, Patrick Gilday, Janet Wales, Sam Cross, Ben Topham, Hannah Brooks, Sally Bottomer, Nigel Richards and Dominic Meering with Bishop John.

From left, Jonathan Jong, Simon Potter, Rob Glenny, John Goodman, George Moody, Peter Hill, Martha Simpson, Janet Radford and Michael Lakey.

Sally Bottomer to serve in Aston ClintonSally says: "I'm married with four children and I have two dogs.

I used to live in Tenerife and am bilingual in Spanish.

I like to go running in my spare time not only to keep fit but also to spend 'quality time' with God. "Hannah Brooks to serve in Finchampstead and CaliforniaHannah says: "I am 24 years old.

I have felt called to ordained ministry since about the age of 12.

This year is very exciting because as well as getting ordained, I am also getting married. "Sam Cross, to serve at St Giles, ReadingSam has just completed his BA in Theology, studying at Ripon College Cuddesdon for the past three years.

Prior to ordination Sam worked in the entertainment industry as a performer, running his own business from the age of seventeen.

He has a particular interest in pilgrimage, which his dissertation explored. Jo Ellington to serve in the CookhamsJo says: "I am married with two children and two step children.

I was not a churchgoer as a child.

I was baptised and confirmed at 17.

I studied Chemistry at Leeds University.

I worked in the USA for two years.

I love walking, skiing and eating with friends and family. "Patrick Gilday to serve at All Saints, Ascot HeathPatrick says: "I first came to Oxford as a music student in 2002, where I was for a little while a member of the cathedral choir.

Coming to Christ Church always feels like coming home now.

Since graduating I have worked for the NHS and taught undergraduate musicians at Oxford. "Dominic Meering to serve in HazlemereDominic, a former Maths teacher from Bristol, is married to Crystal with two young children.

For three years they led a week long annual residential water sports and exam revision holiday in the Lake District.

He has also helped with various other short-term mission trips in the UK and overseas. Nigel Richards to serve in BracknellNigel says: "Years ago there was a popular game show called 'What's My Line?', in which panellists would guess a person's occupation by given clues.

Looking at my Facebook profile - apart from a few obvious 'likes' - it would be difficult to see a priest among my interests of rock music, street art, tattoos and festivals.

I hate all forms of injustice, and remain passionately in love with God, the world and everybody in it. "Ben Topham to serve at Chalfont St PeterBen says: "I graduated from Cliff College in 2005, and since have been engaged in full-time youth ministry.

I love to tell stories and explore scripture with others.

My pre-ordination 'retreat' was a 112 mile pilgrimage in 5 days which joined my love of challenge, the great outdoors, deep friendships and active spirituality. "Janet Wales to serve at Stoke Mandeville and the KimblesJanet was born in South Africa but moved to Zimbabwe when she married David now Rector of Weston Turville Parish.

She has two adult children, Christopher and Roslinn.

Janet, a former History teacher, now teaches piano and plays the organ.

She is interested in Art and Inter-Faith matters. Ben Drury to serve in Stony Stratford with CalvertonBenjamin grew up in Richmond, Yorkshire.

At Worcester College, Oxford he read Ancient and Modern History, and Byzantine Studies; then continued exploring his vocation as Pastoral Assistant of St Michael's and St Paul's Church in Brighton.

Benjamin was then Course Assistant at St George's College, Jerusalem before returning to Oxford to read Theology at St Stephen's. Rob Glenny to serve at Marston and ElsfieldPrior to training at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Rob read theology at the University of St.

Andrews, writing a dissertation on the theology of Johannes Brahms.

He has a keen interest in both sport and music, and a moonlights as a part-time composer.

He is soon to be married to Beth. John Goodman to serve at St Francis, BanburyJohn Goodman's background is mission work in schools, parishes and street outreach as a youth worker as well as in media and internet based ministries.

He trained at Trinity College Bristol.

Together with his wife, Camilla, and children, Miriam and Samuel, they are excited to serve in St Francis, Banbury. Peter Hill to serve in Emmanuel, BicesterPeter works two days a week as a cover supervisor at Wheatley park Secondary School.

He says: "I have done this for nearly three years and it is totally different to my previous job which was as a Senior Officer in the prison service, working at Grendon Prison.

Grendon is a therapy prison, helping offenders change through psychotherapy.

I also keep ferrets which I have taken to church on occasion to illustrate sermons, and I am known to my grandson and his friends as 'Grandad Ferret'. "Jonathan Jong, to serve at St Mary Magdalen, OxfordJonathan Jong grew up in Malaysia before starting university in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he first discovered Anglicanism.

He then came to Oxford to be an experimental psychologist, specializing in the evolutionary and psychological underpinnings of religious belief and behaviour, and found himself training for ordination on top of that. Michael Lakey to serve at St Peter and St Paul, DorchesterMichael Lakey is serving a part-time title post at Ss.

Peter and Paul in Dorchester.

Alongside this, he is New Testament Tutor at Ripon College Cuddesdon, a post which he has occupied since 2008.

Prior to this, he assisted +Tom Wright, the then Bishop of Durham, on a New Testament translation project, published with SPCK in 2011. George Moody to serve at GroveGeorge says: "I am married with four children, the youngest with special needs.

I am a full time teacher, running a busy Religious Studies department and the school's athletics club.

I try to keep fit and healthy by running.

If I had any free time, I would sail or windsurf, go out, or even worship Jesus. "Simon Potter to serve at St Andrew, OxfordSimon says: "I'm delighted to join the St Andrew's team having been a teacher and chaplaincy worker for 13 years.

I look forward to seeing how the truly great news of God's invitation to know him in Jesus Christ might be combined with my love of good curry, coffee, music and travel!"Janet Radford to serve at St Matthew's, Harwell and All Saint's, Chilton and Oxford University TrustJanet says: "I am coming to ordination after a 37 year career as nurse.

I am currently working as a Hospital Chaplain.

I enjoy travelling and walking on the beach, (preferably a hot and sunny one) scrapbooking (holidays) and eating, but definitely not cooking! My favourite food is chocolate. "Martha Simpson to serve in Chipping NortonMartha says: "Before I started training to be a vicar I worked for the National Trust as a Press Officer.

I did mostly wildlife and countryside press so spent a lot of time in some pretty amazing places.

My favourite experience was probably spending the evening recording natterjack toad noises at a site near Liverpool. "