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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 14 December 2020. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Celebrations ensued for 32 people who were ordained as priests in eight services across six venues in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire over the weekend of September 19 and 20.
Bishop Colin with the new priests from the 3pm service at Dorchester Abbey.
Jane Hemmings.
Those 'priested' were mainly those who were ordained deacons at Christ Church Cathedral in July 2019.
A former Naval nurse, a former barrister and a woman who has worked as a BBC presenter are among them.
Read their biographies in the story we published for the Deacons' ordinations last year.
The priestings were postponed from the usual date in late June due to the COVID-19 pandemic which saw a ban on people gathering for public worship. Necessary social distancing measures were in place throughout.
As congregations were limited, the services were live-streamed online here. The services on Sunday in Dorchester marked the last ordinations for the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, who is about to retire as the Bishop of Dorchester.
In an encouraging sermon, Bishop Colin described how the new priests will hear miserable prophets of doom tell them the Church is a sinking ship. He said: "I was ordained Deacon 45 years ago today and over that period I have heard plenty of those voices.
They always seem to leave out God to me, which is unwise.
If God is as he, is why on earth is he calling so many very able, Godly people into ordained ministry just at the moment?One of the huge privileges of bishops is meeting people coming forward for ordination and I do not believe in a God who is a callous God or a God who makes sick jokes.
There is something very special for you to be involved in in the years ahead. "Below are details of each of the services.
Buckingham Area
Ordained priest by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham:
11am on 19 September at St Laurence, Winslow
Stephen Jonathan (Steve) Hallett, to serve in the Benefice of Water Eaton
Tracey Anne (TJ) Jones, to serve in the Benefice of Hughenden
Pat Kevin Kerr, to serve in the Benefice of Risborough
Kevin John Lovell, to serve in the Benefice of Prestwood and Great Hampden
Mark Nelson, to serve in the Benefice of Winslow with Great Horwood and Addington
3pm on 19 September at St Mary, Wendover
Benjamin Martin (Ben) Clarke, to serve in the Benefice of Gerrards Cross and Fulmer
Claire Louise Gerard, to serve in the Benefice of Hazlemere
Suzanne Joan Johnson, to serve in the Benefice of Taplow and Dropmore
Isaac John Knight, to serve in the Benefice of Flackwell Heath
Sally Elizabeth Prendergast to serve in the Benefice of Wendover and Halton
Dorchester Area
Ordained priest by the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester,
10. 30am on 20 September at Dorchester Abbey
Christopher Mark (Chris) Ashton to serve in the Vale Benefice
Andrea Dorothy Colbrook to serve in the Benefice of Ridgeway
Andrew Stewart (Andy) McCulloch to serve in the Benefice of Cogges and South Leigh
Yvonne Beryl Mullins to serve in the Benefice of Shelswell
Catherine Louise Schneider to serve in the Benefice of Dorchester
3pm on 20 September at Dorchester Abbey:
Patricia Moira (Tish) Bird to serve in the Benefice of Charlbury with Shorthampton
Ilona Claire Cheyne, to serve in the Benefice of Chase
Jacob Harold (Jake) Eggertsen, to serve in the Benefice of Banbury St Paul
Michael John (Mike) Madden to serve in the Benefice of Hanborough and Freeland
Judith Elizabeth Marshall to serve in the Benefice of Chipping Norton
Oxford Area
Ordained by the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford:
3pm on 20 September at St Michael & All Angels, Summertown:
Nikolaj Christensen to serve in the Benefice of Iffley
Thomas William (Tom) Howell to serve in the Benefice of Oxford Saint Andrew
Clare Elizabeth Leal to serve in the Benefice of Summertown
Thomas Christopher (Tom) Murray to serve in the Benefice of Oxford Saint Andrew
Berkshire Area
Ordained priest by the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading,
11am on 19 September at Reading Minister:
Robin Sharples to serve in the Benefice of Hungerford and Denford
Terence Edward (Terry) Ward-Hall to serve in the Benefice of Sunningdale
Katherine (Katy) Weston to serve in the Benefice of Basildon with Aldworth and Ashampstead
2pm on 19 September at Reading Minister:
Amy Jane Cavender to serve in the Benefice of Reading Greyfriars
John Nigel Freeman to serve in the Benefice of Reading Greyfriars
Julie Anne Howell to serve in the Benefice of Newbury St George and St John
Andrew Julian (Andy) Storch to serve in the Benefice of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham
Ordained priest by the Rt Revd Rod Thomas, Bishop of Maidstone:
11am on 19 September at St Andrew & St Mary Magdalene, Maidenhead
Ian Daukes Miller to serve in the Benefice of Maidenhead St Andrew and St Mary Magdalene