Two joyful ordination services took place on Saturday 28 September at Rochester Cathedral, as 16 people from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences were ordained deacon or priest into the Diocese of Rochester.
Among them were a former investment banker, a humanitarian charity worker, and a Taekwondo instructor.
Friends, family, and supporters of the candidates gathered in the Cathedral - and online - to offer their prayers and good wishes for those being ordained, all of whom have spent many years exploring, discerning, and testing God’s call in their lives.
Addressing the deacons, the Venerable Peter Townley, the Ordination Retreat Director, said:
“A deacon is a servant - that's what the word Deacon means. And today, you are being entrusted with the ministry of Christ, who washed the disciples’ feet. The Son of God, who made himself the servant of all.
“Today is not a passing out parade. It's not the beginning of a probationary year, rather today, is at the heart of all that we are, all that we do. Never mind if you are a priest, bishop, the Pope himself. You are always a deacon.”
The Rev Becky Willoughby, one of the newly ordained deacons and a Self Supporting Minister, will continue her work as a Taekwondo teacher, alongside her ongoing training.
“I have had a couple of people recently say, so you're going to be changing your black belt for a white collar.
“Having pondered on this I was like, well no, because a black belt isn't something that you do and being ordained isn't something that you do, it's a journey and a process to becoming something.
She added:
“I think everyone if you're a Christian, and you have a strong faith, you take that into the place wherever you are - it's that sense of incarnation, it's Jesus living in amongst the community, and we're the hands and the feet.”
Watch a short film about Becky.
The deacons now begin a period of three or four years working as curates – a trainee vicar - in a church with an experienced priest. For most clergy, after a year, they will be ordained as a priest.
Photo: Bishop Jonathan (centre) and Bishop Simon (centre-right) stand with the newly ordained priests following their ordination service.
Both services were led by Bishop Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Rochester, and were livestreamed on the Diocese's YouTube channel.
- Watch the service of ordination of priests
- Read the sermon by the Venerable Allie Kerr, Archdeacon of Bromley and Bexley
- Watch the ordination service of deacons
- Read the sermon by the Venerable Peter Townley, Ordination Retreat Director
Explore how God may be calling you. Visit www.rochester.anglican.org/everyday-faith/gods-plan-for-you/