News from Canterbury Diocese of Canterbury
July 1st 2010
For immediate use

Archbishop to ordain fourteen new deacons in Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday

Seven men and seven women including a landscape planning officer, an accountant, a hairdresser and a grandmother will become new Church of England curates at a special ordination service in Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday 3 July. Nine others will be ordained priest in services around the Diocese on Sunday 4 July.

Archbishop Rowan Williams will ordain the following six people as deacons in Canterbury Cathedral at 11.00 am on Saturday:

Lorraine Apps-Huggins will serve her curacy as an Ordained Local Minister at Deal St George

Julia Baldwin will serve her curacy as a stipendiary priest at the benefice of Bekesbourne, St Peter, Lower Hardres, St Mary, Nackington St Mary Patrixbourne St Mary w Bridge St Peter

Richard Bellamy will serve his curacy as a self supporting stipendiary priest at the benefice of Cheriton: St Martin and Cheriton Street: All Souls w Newington: St Nicholas

Steve Bennett will serve his curacy as a self-supporting Priest at Staplehurst: All Saints & Chaplain Dulwich Preparatory School, Cranbrook

Norma Bracewell will serve her curacy as an Ordained Local Minister at Canterbury: All Saints

Dr Richard Braddy will serve his curacy as a stipendiary priest at St Alphege Seasalter, within the Whitstable Team Ministry

Linda Cross will serve her curacy as an Ordained Local Minister at the Wye benefice (St Gregory and St Martin w Brook: St Mary w Hastingleigh: St Mary the Virgin w Boughton Aluph: All Saints & Eastwell: St Mary the Virgin w Hinxhill: St Mary)

Judy Darkins will serve her curacy as an Ordained Local Minister at Biddenden, All Saints and Smarden St Michael the Archangel

Millie Hart will serve her curacy as an Ordained Local Minister at Boughton Malherbe: St Nicholas, Harrietsham: St John the Baptist, Lenham: St Mary, Ulcombe: All Saints

Chris Lavender will serve his curacy as a stipendiary priest at Headcorn St Peter and St Paul, Sutton Valence: St Mary the Virgin w East Sutton: St Peter & Paul & Chart Sutton: St Michael and All Angels.

Sue Martin will serve her curacy as a stipendiary priest at Minster-in-Sheppey: St Mary and St Sexburga w Halfway St Peter

Julian Staniforth will serve his curacy as a stipendiary priest at St Martin in Herne w St Peter Greenhill

Marc Terry will serve his curacy as a stipendiary priest at Margate: Holy Trinity

Stefan Thomas will serve his curacy as a non-stipendiary Permanent Deacon in the Thanet Deanery

Ten Deacons to be Ordained Priest

On Sunday 4 July, ten deacons will be ordained as priests in services across the Diocese.

The Archbishop will ordain the following priests in the churches at which they are curates:

Ian Parrish who will continue to serve his curacy as a stipendiary minister at Kingsnorth St Michael and Shadoxhurst St Peter and St Paul

Susan Samson who will continue to serve her curacy as an Ordained Local Minister at Sittingbourne Holy Trinity with Bobbing St Bartholomew

The Bishop of Dover, The Right Reverend Trevor Willmott will ordain the following priests in the churches at which they are curates:

Nicholas Ash who will continue to serve his curacy as a non-stipendiary minister at St Mary of Charity, Faversham and Goodnestone with Graveney All Saints.

James Pettit who will continue to serve his curacy as a stipendiary minister at St Mary of Charity, Faversham and Goodnestone with Graveney All Saints.

Gillian Reed, who will continue to serve her curacy as a non-stipendiary priest at the Ospringe Deanery, from St Mary of Charity, Faversham

Paul Ratcliff who will continue to serve his curacy as a stipendiary minister at St Martin and St Paul Canterbury

Assistant Bishop the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull will ordain the following priests in the churches at which they are curates:

Colin Datcher who will continue to serve his curacy as a stipendiary minister at Hythe St Leonard.

Hugh Nelson who will continue to serve his curacy as a stipendiary minister at Newington St Mary the Virgin, Stockbury St Mary Magdalene, Upchurch St Mary the Virgin.

Assistant Bishop the Right Reverend Richard Llewellyn will ordain the following priests in the churches at which they are curates:

Christyan James who will continue to serve his curacy as a stipendiary minister at Maidstone St Martin

Eileen Lander who will continue to serve her curacy as a self-supporting minister at Maidstone St Paul

Ends

Further Information from: Emily Shepherd, Director of Communications, 07876 210 446

Notes for Editors
Photographs of the new curates are available and photographs from the service of ordination will be available week beginning July 5th.

Biogs of new Deacons:

Lorraine Apps-Huggins - Deal St George Lorraine, 46, a hairdresser and mum, became a Christian in her early 30's after attending an Alpha course. Lorraine, who describes her young adult years as 'hedonistic and wild', says: "I was going through a particularly difficult time in my life and so to discover God's love for me, his plan for me, and to receive his reconciling forgiveness for my wayward years was life transforming. This joyful discovery, of God as friend and helper, has never left me."

Lorraine eventually found herself called to ministry: "Having found my purpose - to love and serve God, I rapidly wanted to use my skills and talents and service for the church."

Lorraine, who lives in Deal with husband John, daughter Abi and three step children Alex, Natacha and David, will work as an Ordained Local Minister (an unpaid post) at Deal St George's. She enjoys socializing, the great outdoors, music and art.

Julia Baldwin - Benefice of Bekesbourne,
Information to follow.

Richard Bellamy - Benefice of Cheriton
Richard, 47, likens his calling to ordained ministry to the lowest, deepest note of an orchestra and says: "That note has been sounding in the subterranean depths of my being for many years and was waiting for me to come to a place of attentiveness." Richard, who was brought to faith when a friend helped him 'through a time of crisis' has attended Folkestone St John's with his wife Carol and two sons since 1995. Following confirmation alongside his eldest son James in Canterbury Cathedral in 2005, Richard began listening in earnest to God's Call.

Richard has spent the last twenty years working on the staff team of Mission Aviation Fellowship UK, based in Folkestone, designing and producing the communication materials to help develop the growing supporter team throughout the United Kingdom. He will continue in this role whilst working as a self-supporting priest in the Cheriton Benefice. Richard, who also enjoys painting and sketching, is looking forward to his new ministry and hopes to 'help people to live an ordinary life well'.

Steve Bennett - Dulwich Preparatory School and Staplehurst
Steve, 43, originally from New Zealand, trained and worked as a secondary school teacher before moving to Dulwich Preparatory School, Cranbrook in 1996 where he teaches music, history and religious studies to children between the ages of 5 and 13 years, as well as working in a boarding house.

Whilst living in Christ Church, New Zealand, John attended a suburban Anglican church. It was there that the vicar, John Sheaf, had a 'big impact' on Steve's developing faith. Five years ago Steve joined the congregation at Staplehurst where he felt a strong call to explore ordained ministry.

Steve, who will continue to work at Dulwich Prep School, is looking forward to ministering at Staplehurst and working as Chaplain at Dulwich Prep. Steve says: "I'm really passionate about school assemblies and love the questions kids ask about faith; they're great for challenging our assumptions about what is Church!"

Norma Bracewell - Canterbury: All Saints
Norma, 63, a grandmother to three (soon to be four!), spent part of her life working as a Laboratory Technician at Chartham Paper Mills as well as bringing up her sons. Norma became a licensed Reader in 1994 and in recent years felt a calling to ordained ministry.

Norma, who will work as an Ordained Local Minister (unpaid post) at Canterbury All Saints, says: "I am looking forward to becoming more involved with the mission and pastoral work of the parish and working with people disadvantaged by lack of literacy skills. I am also passionate about preventing the exploitation of the vulnerable, especially the elderly."

In her spare time, Norma loves spending time with her grandchildren and playing 'killer' Sudoku, knitting and baking.

Dr Richard Braddy - St Alphege Seasalter, Whitstable
Richard, 43, worked as a music teacher at St Edmund's School, Canterbury for 19 years including a stint as Housemaster for eight years. The son of a Methodist Minister, Richard had always been heavily involved in church work - through music and as a church warden, but always felt God was 'calling him to do more'.

After attending a Diocesan 'Could it be you?' programme, Richard went on to study with SEITE. He says: "It was good to share my ministerial formation with a close community who were all able to bring their ever-changing experiences from their own church and home contexts. At SEITE I was also able to develop my interest in ecumenical relationships researching the effects of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant."

As a stipendiary Deacon, Richard is looking forward to serving the people of Seasalter and the Whitstable area by listening to people's stories and helping them travel further into God's kingdom."

Richard shares his passion for music with his wife Lorna who is Head of Music at Simon Langton Boys Grammar School, Canterbury and their two children, Oliver (14) and Poppy-Clare (12).

Linda Cross - Wye Benefice
Linda, a part time landscape planning officer with Ashford Borough Council, has lived in Wye for 27 years with her husband and children where she felt called to ministry at her local church as an Ordained Local Minister.

Known as a 'vicarage kid' Linda comes from a family with deep Christian roots. Her great grandparents were missionaries and her father was an ordained priest in the Church of England.

After completing voluntary service overseas with the Church Mission Society, teaching for one year in a school in Kenya, Linda studied geography at Durham and then an MSC in Landscape Ecology at Wye.

Linda, who is looking forward to the 'challenging and exciting journey ahead' says: "My professional work as landscape planning officer at Ashford Borough Council, involvement in the church and the hospitality of our home to family and friends, have been important activities in my life and I do not see this changing in the future. At the heart of my faith is the belief in Christ's redemption and re-creation of the whole of life."

Judy Darkins - Biddenden and Smarden
Judy, who has a varied work background in motor racing, social work, and education welfare, felt called over a considerable time to ordained ministry. After moving to Kent in 2000 her calling was confirmed by friends, family and work colleagues as well as members of the congregations at Biddenden and Smarden.

Judy, who has five children and is a grandmother says: "I am very much looking forward to serving in Biddenden and Smarden as an Ordained Local Minister (unpaid post).

Millie Hart - Len Valley Benefice
Before starting her training as an Ordained Local Minister, Millie, 60, ran a Nursery School and ministered in her church as a licensed Reader. Millie explains: "I felt completely comfortable in my role which fitted well into my busy life and linked my ministry to the nursery families across the generations. My role as Reader changed my profile within the community and I thought I was doing so much for my Lord, that he would pat me on the head and say 'well done Millie, carry on.' Instead the voice I was hearing was telling me 'not to stand still'!

Millie, who is looking forward to serving people and working with the ministry team in the Len Valley benefice, says: "If we are to meet our communities where they are we must go out to walk alongside them." It is for that reason Millie has also been commissioned as a volunteer hospital chaplain, supporting the full time chaplain on the maternity and neo-natal ward.

Chris Lavender - Headcorn and Suttons
Involvement in a Passion play in 2004 was a turning point in Chris Lavender's faith. Chris, 49, explains: "From that point I felt the need to 'start again' and attended an Alpha course - this coupled with various other factors set me on a journey that led to greater involvement in church life and eventually to consider that I was being called to do more."

After working as an accountant and running his own gardening maintenance business, Chris worked for a while as a Mission Development Worker for his parish before starting his training as Ridley Hall.

Chris, who enjoys motorcycling, gardening and drama, will serve his curacy at Headcorn and the Suttons. He says: "I am looking forward to building community and developing networks through which evangelism can naturally evolve and others can develop a relationship with God."

Sue Martin - Minster-in-Sheppey
Sue, 41, worked for many years as a children and youth worker for churches, before becoming a learning mentor at a primary school in Ashford.

Called to stipendiary ministry, Sue trained at SEITE. During her three years study, Sue became a mum to Samuel as well as managing her caring responsibilities for her own father.

Sue will serve her curacy as a stipendiary priest on the Isle of Sheppey in the parishes of Minster-in-Sheppey and Halfway St Peter, although she will live in the vicarage in Queenborough. Sue, who describes herself as down to earth and approachable says she is looking forward to serving the island community. She says: "I want to be there for local people, helping God shine in people's lives."

Julian Staniforth - St Martin in Herne
Whilst on a retreat five summers ago, Julian had a conversation with the sister who guided him over that weekend, who asked if he had thought about becoming a priest. Julian explains: "It was somewhat unexpected to say the least and would not go away. At the end of the day when praying with a picture of Jesus washing Peter's feet I had this fleeting inner question 'are you willing?' to which I found myself responding 'yes'".

A former accountant and Finance Director of Teletext, Julian, 51, will serve his curacy as a stipendiary priest at St Martin-in-Herne. He says: "I am looking forward to getting to know and be a part of the church in the Herne parish and working with the community where such buds of faith may flourish."

Julian, who enjoys music and art, is married to Andrea, a piano and French teacher. They have three sons David (21), Samuel (19) and Paul (16).

Marc Terry - Holy Trinity, Margate
Marc's journey of faith was initiated through conversations about 'Hamlet' in his A Level English class. Shortly after he was confirmed in Rochester Cathedral and in 2000, around the time his own father became an ordained priest, Marc attended an Alpha Course.

As Marc built his career as a management information analyst, compiling stats on complaints for Lloyds TSB, he pursued his calling. He says: "For two years a repetitive dream followed me during my waking and sleeping hours, until during a trip to Serbia, Cont….
a fellow volunteer explained to me that they had dreamt about me and then recited my dream to me! I returned to my vicar and then began the visits to the Diocesan Director of Ordinands."

In 2008 Marc started his training at Trinity College, Bristol. During his training he met his fiancée, Shelly McLean. The couple get married on 14th August 2010.

Marc is looking forward to joining Holy Trinity Margate: "As Deacon I'm really looking forward to learning the ropes, getting to know the already very helpful congregation. I'm also passionate about taking opportunities to work with other Christian denominations."

Stefan Thomas - Permanent Deacon in the Thanet Deanery
Stefan, 43, spent 18 years working for H.M. Customs and Excise, before becoming a secondary school RS teacher at Chatham House Grammar School, a role he will retain alongside his post as a permanent deacon in the Thanet Deanery.

Stefan, who feels called to serve the community, explains: "I am looking forward to exploring the distinctive nature of being a deacon within the traditional role of a parish system, but also in the wider community, where the Church is rarely seen or understood. I want to make relevant the Gospel message to all areas of our community."

Stefan lives in Broadstairs with his wife Andrea, and their children Samuel (17) and Hannah (15). He lists music, cycling, astronomy and Sci-Fi novels among his interests.