A HISTORY teacher from Winchester College was among the 17 new members who joined the Diocese of Winchester’s team of clergy earlier this month.
The new deacons, who come from a variety of occupations including the NHS and the civil service, will go on to serve parishes across Hampshire and east Dorset.
Before being ordained, the new members of Winchester’s clergy, took part in two to three years of training.
A deacon is a minister whose order ranking is below a priest. They take on the responsibility of serving their communities and reaching out to those who need them. Typically, deacons are ordained as priests the following year.
READ MORE: Language teachers offer free English classes to Ukrainian children
The Right Reverend Debbie Sellin, Bishop of Southampton said: “It is a joy to bless ordain these people deacon who have worked so hard and shown such dedication to their faith and to God.
"The rich diversity of experiences these people bring with them will only enhance and enrich the communities they go on to serve in. I look forward to seeing all the great work they will go on to do.”
SEE ALSO: Work set to start on new £260,000 traffic light-controlled Puffin crossing
Civil servant of 27 years, Clive Beard, was among those ordained. Throughout his career Clive, 50, always felt a calling to help and serve others.
Clive will be serving St Luke’s Hedge End and is keen to develop the parish’s work with young people and the broader community.
He said: “I have always felt a pull towards helping and serving other people. My time at the civil service allowed me to utilize and develop these skills and I am looking forward to taking them further in my work with churches and communities. Throughout training, I learned so much not only from my teachers but from the others learning with me. Hearing their stories and experiences was truly a blessing.”
Claire Robinson, 55, from Southampton had always worked with the church and education whilst raising her three children.
The new minister for Maybush and Southampton St Jude said: “Arriving at Maybush felt like coming home. My calling has always been to the door, not the altar and I want to meet people where they are and welcome them in.
"The Liturgy of Ordination speaks of ‘reaching into the forgotten corners of the world that the love of God may be made visible’ and I have really felt I can do that here.”
Recently, Claire has set up a new foodbank marketplace at All Saints Redbridge, called the Millbrook Marketplace, in partnership with the Southampton City Mission.
Launching in May 2022 the foodbank has already become a welcoming space for members to access good quality healthy food. As she continues her service at Maybush and Southampton St Jude, the new minister is hoping to expand the community project to include focus on mental and emotional wellbeing.
The full list of deacons who have been ordained this year is below, together with the parishes they will now go on to serve:
Lorna Allez (Bitterne Park)
Clive Beard (St Luke’s Hedge End)
Stephen Bennett (Totton)
Thomas Boulter (St Mary’s Southampton)
Ben Coulter (Throop)
Chris Dodgson (Throop)
Sam Duckhouse (Christchurch)
Claire Robinson (Maybush and Southampton St Jude)
Robert Sawdy (Winton, Moordown and Charminster)
David Smith (Totton)
Sam Dinsmore (Yateley)
Ed Haycock (Basingstoke)
Helen May (St John’s Hartley Witney with Elvetham, St Mary’s Winchfield and All Saints Dogmersfield)
James McKinnel (Winchester College)
Ranjan Emmanuel (Yateley)
Jessie Ross (Andover St Mary)
Charlie Seligman (Overton and Laverstoke with Freefolk)
Tom Woodbridge (Eastrop)
Elliot James Grove (Pastrow)
To see the gallery, click the top image.
A message from the editor
Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support.
Subscribing means you have unrestricted access to the latest news and reader rewards - all with an advertising-light website.
Don't take my word for it – subscribe here to see for yourself.
Looking to advertise an event? Then check out our free events guide.
Want to keep up with the latest news and join in the debate? You can find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel