The latest cohort of new priests and deacons – known as ‘ordinands’ – were ordained at the weekend to serve in The Church of England in Lancashire

Five services took place across the two days.

The group of 18 ordinands was made up of 10 Deacons and 8 Priests.

As well as pictures from all five services- see below - our new video, featuring two of the Deacons and two of the priests, is on the Diocesan YouTube channel and embedded here.

The video features Rebecca Feeney (Standish); Ian Sarginson (Clitheroe); Lois Ward (Poulton, Carleton and Singleton) and Adam Thomas (Lytham).

The video also features all three of our Bishops, Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn; Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley and Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster, in conversation about the importance of ordination.

• A full list of all the Deacons and Priests for 2019 and where they will serve across the Diocese can be viewed here.
• And full profiles of each new Deacon and Priest can be viewed here
• Pictures from the last week, including the ordination services, are also available to view in an album here on the Diocesan Flickr site. 
• Listen to interviews with the ordinands on BBC Radio Lancashire at 1h 51m 25s and 2h 52m 15s

On Saturday, June 29, at Blackburn Cathedral, Bishop Jill ordained eight of the Deacons while Bishop Julian ordained five of the Priests at services at 10.30am and 2.30pm respectively.

Three further services for five ordinands were then held in parishes the next day, Sunday June 30: Bishop Julian ordained two Deacons at 10.30am at St John’s in Whittle-le-Woods at 10.30am and two Priests at St Andrew, Ashton-on-Ribble, at 2.30pm. Meanwhile the final Priest was ordained by Bishop Philip, at Fleetwood, St Peter and St David at 6pm on Sunday.

Bishop Julian said today: “It was a joy and a delight to see men and women released and authorised for ministry at the five services which took place over the weekend. 

“This year we had a great cohort of candidates. May their ministry bring much blessing in the parishes where they will serve.

”As part of Vision 2026 we also committed to growing vocations and increasing the number of ordinands and curates in training. The Bishop’s Ordination Fund helps to fund the grants made to assist with living and removal costs of those in training.  Visit this page on our website where you can donate to all our present funds, including the Bishop's Ordination Fund.

• All pictures for Blackburn Diocese by Sara Cuff ... contact Sara at sara@cpictures.co.uk

Deacons, Blackburn Cathedral Front row, l-r, Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley; Maureen Baldwin; Jane Lee; Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster; Lois Ward; Susan Salt; Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn; back row, l-r, Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Ven. Michael Everitt; Kat Gregory-Witham; Michael Hutchinson; Ian Sarginson; Elizabeth McLean; Rev. Nick McKee, Director of Vocations; Rev. Matt Allen, Director of Studies, All Saints; Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Ven. Mark Ireland.

Priests, Blackburn Cathedral Front row, l-r; Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley; Emma Swarbrick; Adam Thomas; Barbara Pack; Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn; Rebecca Feeney; Karen Herschell; Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster; Back row, l-r, Rev. Nick McKee, Director of Vocations; Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Ven. Michael Everitt; Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Ven. Mark Ireland; The Very Rev. Peter Howell-Jones, Dean of Blackburn; Rev. Matt Allen, Director of Studies, All Saints.

Deacons, St John’s in Whittle-le-Woods Front row, l-r, Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Ven. Michael Everitt; Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley; Kit Walker; Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn; Paul Davies; Rev. Matt Allen, Director of Studies, All Saints; back row, l-r, Rev. Nick McKee, Director ofVocations; Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Ven. Mark Ireland; Rev. Philip Venables, Vicar of St John’s.

Priests, St Andrew’s, Ashton-on-Ribble Front row, l-r, Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Ven. Michael Everitt; Peter Harvey; Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn; Jonathan Wei Sing Lee; Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley; Rev. Matt Allen, Director of Studies, All Saints; back row, l-r, Rev. Nick McKee, Director of Vocations; Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Ven. Mark Ireland; Rev. James Nash, Vicar of St Andrew’s.

Priest, St Peter and St David, Fleetwood Front row, l-r, Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Ven. Michael Everitt; Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn, Christopher Dingwall-Jones; Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley; Rev. Matt Allen, Director of Studies, All Saints; back row, Rev. Paul Benfield, Diocesan Registrar; Rev. Nick McKee, Director of Vocations; Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Ven. Mark Ireland.

Ronnie Semley, June 2019