Ordinations

St Helen's has been pleased to support members of its own congregation called towards ordination training and also to support student ordinands from other parishes undertaking the placements which form part of their training in Selston with Westwood.

Acceptance for ordination training involves panels at both parish and diocesan levels, followed by attendance at a national selection conference.  Accepted candidates are funded by the diocese to undergo an accredited training programme, either as one year full-time in a theological college or as three years part-time.  On successfully completing the course, a candidate is first ordained by the diocesan bishop to the office of deacon and is appointed to serve as an assistant curate within a designated parish (not the candidate's home parish).  After one year a deacon is normally ordained again by the bishop to the priesthood, although exceptionally a person may be admitted as a permanent deacon if that is in line with their calling.

Members or former members of the parish being ordained in the last 30 years include Ernie Hill, David Lester, Robert Murray, Adrian Dempster and Elizabeth Murray.  Ordinands who have undertaken placement training within the parish include Andy Marsh and Lydia Cartwright, whilst Pauline Key and Mina Munns have both been appointed as deacons to the role of assistant curate in the parish and subsequently ordained as priests.

The following photographs were taken at the ordination services of some of those mentioned above:

** Photographs to be added **