Congratulations to our ordinands who will become deacons and priests this Petertide.
Ordinations will take place on Saturday 28 June and Sunday 29 June at Durham Cathedral with eleven people being ordained as deacons and eight as priests.
Our soon-to-be deacons will be serving their titles in parishes across our Diocese – please give them a warm welcome if you see them in your parish. Our new priests, who began ordained ministry as deacons last year, will continue to serve their existing parishes as curates.
You can find out more about each of our ordinands below...
Deacons
Emily Carling
To serve at St. Peter's Stockton, All Saints Hartburn and St. John's Elton
Emily’s journey to ordination started quite unexpectedly, listening to a podcast in her Belfast kitchen as she prepared to move to the north east, she felt the need to explore her calling.
Katherine Cooper-Young
To serve St. Nicholas' Bishopwearmouth
Katherine didn’t believe Bishop David Jenkins when he told her at nine years old that she’d grow up to be a priest. Eventually though, the timing was right and Katherine felt God calling her to explore ordination. Studying via the Mixed Mode pathway at Cranmer Hall, Katherine has enjoyed a long placement at Vine Church Wynyard.
Ronald Kock
To serve Alive Church Gateshead
Originally from South Africa, Ronald is married to Irma and they have two daughters aged 23 and 20 years old.
Ronald's journey to ordination first began when he explored working as a prison Chaplain. He was challenged on whether he wanted to do funerals, weddings etc and this led him on the pathway seeking ordination. After having spoken to several people, praying and seeking God's guidance Ronald sensed that this was the right path to go forward with.
After having been given the go ahead, Ronald ended up at Lindesfarne College of Theology. This was a 1 year program which Ronald says stretched him on a different level. As Ronald did not have an Anglican background, this enabled him to engage with people coming from various backgrounds and perspectives. As he nears ordination, Ronald appreciates the uniqueness of the training and in spite of fears and uncertainties how one gets shaped and prepared by God. He feels positive knowing that he is not alone and that there are other people who have walked this very same journey and that they can give him guidance. At the same time, his hope and trust is in God who says that He is always with us!
Ray Leonard
To serve Sunderland Minster
Ray’s calling came to him completely out of the blue, unexpected and uninvited. But after lots of reflection during the discernment process, Ray knew this was the right path for him and so decided to study at Lindisfarne College of Theology. Ahead of his ordination, Ray feels privileged to be able to take on the role of deacon, getting alongside all thise he encounters as he serves at Sunderland Minster.
Ann Lipscombe
To serve St. Edmund, King and Martyr, Bearpark.
Ann still finds herself surprised to be writing this. Although brought up in a Christian family, from her teen years, she had little to do with faith and felt that God had no place in her life. This was changed radically following her retirement from work as a secondary school deputy headteacher when she had a time of personal crisis and bereavement. Over a period of time, Ann realised that she was missing out on God’s plan for her life by focussing so much on her own!
Ann has been supported, nurtured and loved along the way by both her ever-loving family and by some wonderful people at St. Nic’s, Durham and at All Saints, Lanchester with St. John’s Burhope and St. Thomas’s Harelaw. They are the reason she is here today as they helped her to hear God’s voice!
Ann's describes her time studying at Lindisfarne College of Theology as formative and transformational. Returning to study after so many years was daunting but excellent teaching, first rate pastoral support and wonderful friendships made it a worthwhile and fulfilling experience.
Ordination seems to be approaching very quickly – Ann is excited and nervous in equal measure but knows that she is safe in God’s hands.
Claire Mead
To serve St. Luke’s and All Saints Stranton in Hartlepool
Claire’s journey to ordination has been a long one. She has served for many years in a lay capacity through youth and schools work, even starting the discernment process more than ten years ago in a different diocese. More recently, while worshipping at St. Mary’s Gainford, Claire felt God nudging her to return to discernment.
Helen Miller
To serve St. Nic's Durham
For many years, Helen was a peripatetic music teacher in Bradford but after consistent nudging from God, Helen felt called to explore her calling. At each turning point on the journey, Helen expected doors to close but they didn’t and so two years ago she and her family moved up to the North East for Helen to study at Cranmer Hall.4
Donna Robinson
To serve St. Cuthbert’s Blaydon, St. Patrick’s High Spen and St Barnabas Rowlands Gill.
Donna’s faith journey started at a young age, baptised and confirmed at her local church she became part of the church family. However, it wasn’t until recently that she felt God’s calling to ministry. Originally training to be a Reader through Lindisfarne College of Theology, lost in a labyrinth on holiday, Donna was surprised to hear God calling her to go on to ordained ministry instead.
Chris Scorer
To serve Holy Trinity Washington
Chris was brought up in a Christian household, sometimes but not always attending Church. Trust in God the Father has always been important to her, particularly in difficult times. Simply wanting to share her faith and help people, Chris began training for Lay Ministry at Lindisfarne College of Theology. When it began to be clear that God was drawing her to another path Chris kept saying no. Once the ‘no ‘ became ‘yes’, Chris moved onto the Ordination Pathway.
Lizelke Shelton
To serve St. Gabriel's Bishopwearmouth
Lizelke’s journey to ordination has been, quite the adventure. Growing up in South Africa, she came over to the UK in 2016 to study for a PHD in Astrophysics. However, she found herself more excited about sharing the love of Jesus with her fellow scientists than she did the science and knew that God was calling her to ministry. Following some moulding and shaping at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, Lizelke is excited to serve her curacy at St. Gabriel’s Bishopwearmouth.
Rachel Wilson
To serve the Parishe of the Upper Skerne
Rachel returned to church following the birth of her third child and felt called to pastoral ministry. She was authorised as a Lay Pastoral Assistant during Covid but felt God calling her to something more. Passionate particularly about working with children and the elderly, Rachel is looking forward to being ordained as a Distinctive Deacon and serving in the Parish of the Upper Skerne.
Priests
Emma Barker
Emma has really enjoyed serving her deacon’s year in the parishes of Penshaw, Burnmoor, Henshaw and Shiney Row, spreading God’s love and light to these congregations and communities. Prior to ordination, Emma worked as a lay chaplain in the Newcastle Hospitals and she’s been glad to have been able to continue this now she is ordained. As she prepares to be ordained as a priest, Emma is excited to make sure everyone feels welcomed and included in God’s love
Jonny Fay
Jonny’s year as a deacon serving Blaydon, High Spen and Rowlands Gill has certainly been a busy one. He’s particularly enjoyed journeying with those who come to be baptised or confirmed, seeing it as a privilege to be part of their journey. Building relationships with the local community through Messy Church and special events such as Remembrance Sunday has also been a highlight of Jonny’s journey so far.
Elaine Grant
Elaine has enjoyed returning to the places she grew up, serving as a deacon in the familiar parishes of St. Alban’s Windy Nook, St. John’s Gateshead Fell and St. Ninian’s. It’s been a busy and varied year, from photocopying to preaching but most of all Elaine has enjoyed getting alongside the people in this area, seeing God at work in these places and she’s looking forward to continuing being part of His plan there once ordained as a Priest.
Andrew McAllister
Andrew has enjoyed serving his deacon’s year in the parish of Jarrow and Simonside, following in the footsteps of the Venerable Bede. He has enjoyed seeing where God is already at work in these places and feels privileged to be invited to join in growing God’s kingdom. Getting involved with local children and young people has been a particular highlight for Andrew and he looks forward to seeing more lives transformed by the love of God.
Ana Moskvina-Baldwin
Ana has been serving her curacy at Barnard Castle with Whorlton. She is a city girl (born and grew up in Leningrad/St Petersburg and then lived in Norwich for many years) and never thought she'd live in a town but she loves it! Both churches where Ana serves have welcomed her with such warmth that she's had a boost of encouragement for years to come! Throughout her diaconal year, which has flown by and has been very busy, Ana says she has felt nothing but love and support.
Before coming to Barnard Castle, Ana trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham and prior to that did some academic work in the field of History of Art and Architecture, as well as some teaching, and worked for the Diocese of Norwich, helping congregations look after historic churches in their care.
Ana is feeling a little nervous about her Ordination to Priesthood and presiding at the Eucharist for the first time, but she is also excited. Ana hopes she can continue to offer something of value to the people she serves, and God will use her in ways that can bring something of his goodness and love to others.
Anne Robertson
Anne feels it has been a privilege to carry out the pastoral role of a deacon this year as she’s served St. Mary’s Sherburn, St. Giles’ Durham and St. Cuthbert’s Shadforth. It has been a year full of challenges but also love and laughter as Anne has experienced funeral ministry as well as working alongside children and young people, God faithful throughout. As she comes to be ordained as priest, Anne feels prepared and excited to see what God has in store next.
Lee Trevorrow-Earl
Lee finds it hard to put into words how amazing his deacon’s year has been with lots of meaningful encounters with people from lots of different backgrounds. He’s really excited to be ordained as a priest, looking forward especially to presiding at Eucharist and the privilege of welcoming people to the Lord’s Table.