22nd January 2026

Three new Priests are ordained to serve in Lancashire Church of England parishes

The ordinations of three new Priests to serve in parishes across Lancashire took place at the weekend.

The congregation for the Ordination Service, at St Bartholomew’s in Colne, watched as Rev Tony Howarth, Rev Kaarina Leong and Rev Cathy Malins were newly-ordained to the Priesthood.

Tony will serve in the benefice of Colne; Kaarina in the parish of Lancaster Christ Church and Cathy in the parish of Lower Darwen St James in plurality with Over Darwen St James.

The full service as a livestream recording is available on YouTube here.

The three new Priests were ordained by the Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff. The preacher at the service was Rev Tim Evans, Honorary Priest at Lancaster Priory, who led the ordinands' retreat beforehand at Whalley Abbey.

Speaking before the service, Bishop Jill said: “Priests carry a wide range of responsibilities in the Church of God as messengers, stewards, teachers of the faith, ministers of the sacraments and shepherds of the flock. It has been a delight to follow the journeys of Kaarina, Cathy and Tony as they have prepared for this moment and I am grateful to all those who have supported them on their way including families, friends and their training incumbents Carol, Rebecca and Alex.”

Also in attendance at the weekend were the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Philip North; The Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable David Picken; the Rector of Colne, Rev Alex Oehring; Rev Canon Anne Beverley, Director of Ministry and also training incumbents Rev Carol Backhouse and Rev Rebecca Roberts.

Other visiting clergy included the Rt Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders, Bishop of Doncaster Until recently, Bishop Leah was Vicar of Lancaster Priory where Kaarina’s vocation was nurtured, so she attended to support alongside her husband Mark, and led the intercessions. Rt Rev Tony Porter who is an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese also attended the service.

Livestream link in full for the service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9avukWt4hIw

Captions for the above pictures, top to bottom:
Photos taken by Sara Cuff for Blackburn Diocese

Pictured after the service are (l-r) Bishop’s Chaplain, Rev Andy Meeson; Rt Rev Philip North; Rev Tony Howarth; Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff; Rev Kaarina Leong; Rev Cathy Malins; Rt Rev Tony Porter and Rt Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders

Pictured with Rt Rev Philip North, left and Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff, right, after the service are new Priests (l-r) Rev Tony Howarth; Rev Kaarina Leong and Rev Cathy Malins