Our latest cohort of 23 new priests and deacons will be ordained this weekend to serve in The Church of England in Lancashire.

The ordination services were originally scheduled for earlier this year but were postponed due to the current pandemic. 

The rescheduled services this Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, will be held in full consideration of current government guidance. There will be seven services in parishes across the Diocese.

Due to limited numbers allowed in person we have made arrangements to have all the services livestreamed.

• Click here for all the livestream links you need
• You can also follow us on social media @cofelancs and on Facebook (Blackburn Diocese); if you are on social media use #NewRevs
• And watch our ordination video below which features our bishops and two of the Deacons, Matt Guilder and Christina Walker and two of the Priests, Kat Gregory Witham and Ian Sarginson 

The seven services will each be led by one of our three Bishops: Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn; Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley and Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster. The Bishops will also ordain the candidates.

The group of 23 ordinands is the largest for several years and is made up of 11 Priests and 12 Deacons. There will be full coverage of the services, including pictures and a video, early next week on the Diocesan website. Locally and nationally The Church of England will also be collectively using #NewRevs on social media. 

Please hold the candidates in your prayers as they prepare for the coming weekend, including attending a shorter-than-usual retreat at Blackburn Cathedral on Friday. 

On Saturday the ordination of our 11 Priests takes place. Their names and the parishes they will serve are as follows ... 

Priests

Maureen Baldwin

• Chorley St Laurence

Michael Clayton

• Preston St Cuthbert Fulwood

Paul Davies

• Whittle-le-Woods, St John the Evangelist

Katherine Gregory-Witham

• Burnley St Matthew the Apostle (Habergham Eaves) with Holy Trinity

Michael Hutchinson

• Preston St Cuthbert Fulwood

Jane Lee

• West Pendleside

Elizabeth McLean

• Fulwood Christ Church

Susan Salt

• Fellside Team Ministry

Ian Sarginson

• Clitheroe St James

Christopher Walker

• Padiham with Hapton with Padiham Green

Lois Ward

• Poulton, Carleton and Singleton

On Sunday the ordination of our 12 Deacons takes place. Their names and the parishes they will serve are as follows ... 

Andrew Dykes

• Preston Minster

Daniel Freeman

• Preston The Risen Lord

Matthew Guilder

• Lancaster St Thomas

David Hargreaves

• Barrowford St Thomas and Newchurch-in-Pendle St Mary

Catherine Haydon

• Poulton-le-Sands Holy Trinity with Morecambe St Laurence

Andrew Holmes

• Haslingden St James with Grane St Stephen and Stonefold St John (plurality with Musbury St Thomas)

Angela Letchford

• Lancaster St Thomas

Simon Lloyd

• Nelson Little Marsden

Kyle Mulholland

• Ansdell and Fairhaven St Paul

Jane Parker

• St Paul North Shore and St Anne Greenlands

Matthew Robinson

• Layton and Staining St Mark

Christina Walker

• Dolphinholme with Quernmore and Over Wyresdale

Ronnie Semley, September 2020