IT was a weekend of celebrations for churches across Worcestershire as 12 candidates were ordained in Worcester Cathedral to serve in parishes across the Diocese.
Seven candidates were ordained deacon on Sunday and will enter their first year of training as a curate including Laura Handy to serve in the Droitwich team, Philippa Mary Sargent to serve in Kempsey and Severn Stoke with Croome d'Abitot and Andrew Todd to serve at St. Stephen’s Church, Barbourne.
Another five candidates have completed their first year and were ordained priest on Saturday and are now able to preside at the Holy Communion including Sarah Cottrill, who serves at St. John in Bedwardine, Worcester, Owen Gallacher, who serves at All Saints in Worcester, and Emma Goldby, who serves at Holy Trinity, Malvern and St James, West Malvern.
The Bishop of Worcester presided at both ordinations, assisted by the Bishop of Dudley, and the Right Revd Nigel Stock, Bishop at Lambeth, preached.
Bishop John said: "Ordination services are a great celebration of God’s call to serve.
"It is always a joy to ordain those who have responded to God's call to dedicate their life to the service of God and other people in ministry."
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