Congratulations to our 21 ordinands who will become deacons and priests this Petertide.
Ordinations will take place on Saturday 29 June, Sunday 30 June and Monday 1 July with thirteen people being ordained as priests and eight as deacons.
Our soon-to-be deacons will be serving their titles in parishes across our Diocese – please give them a warm welcome if you see them in your parish. Our new priests, who began ordained ministry as deacons last year, will continue to serve their existing parishes as curates.
These services will be live-streamed from Durham Cathedral's YouTube channel. Watch the Ordination of Priests on 29 June at 4pm. Watch the Ordination of Deacons on 30 June at 10am.
You can find out more about each of our ordinands below...
Deacons
Emma Barker
Emma is currently Chaplain at Newcastle Hospitals where she feels privileged to get to share God’s love with people who don’t normally come into contact with the church. She has trained at Lindisfarne College of Theology and is really excited about starting her new chapter of ministry, serving Burnmoor, Herrington, Penshaw & Shiney Row.
Melanie Campbell
Mel first felt called to ministry about 15 years ago but uncertain, she put it to the back of her mind, hoping it would go away.... It didn’t and six years later, once other people started asking about her calling, she felt unable to continue ignoring it. Since her church was in vacancy, Mel contacted Alastair Prince, our Vocations Strategy Development Adviser. After three years of studying at Lindisfarne College of Theology, Mel is excited to serve her curacy with the Escomb Group of Parishes.
Jonny Fay
Jonny’s journey to faith started as a youngster through his grandparents. A secondary teacher by trade, playing with a local wind band in his spare time, Jonny studied at Lindisfarne College of Theology part-time to allow him to continue teaching during his training. He is excited to serve his curacy in High Spen, Rowlands Gill and Blaydon and is looking forward to seeing what God has in store next.
Elaine Grant
As a child growing up in Low Fell, Elaine dreamt of becoming a vicar – what better role for someone who loves God and loves people? After spending some time down south after university, Elaine was reminded of that childhood dream and decided to train at Cranmer Hall. Elaine is really excited to be returning to the place where she first felt her calling, to serve her curacy at St. John’s Gateshead Fell and St. Alban’s Windy Nook.
Andrew McAllister
Andrew first felt called to ordination as a teenager but found himself in a dilemma as he also felt called to teach. Having spent eight years as a music teacher in Hartlepool however, the Covid pandemic gave Andrew time to reflect and he felt now was the right time to explore his calling to ordination. Andrew studied at Cranmer Hall and is looking forward to serving his curacy in the Parish of Jarrow and Simonside.
Ana Moskvina
Others told Ana she should be investigating ordination many years ago but it took a bit longer for Ana to listen to God’s calling for her life. After giving in and joining the discernment process, Ana chose to study at Cranmer Hall where she enjoyed studying with many different people from different backgrounds, with different experiences to her own. Ana is slightly nervous but also really excited to serve her curacy at St. Mary’s Barnard Castle with Whorlton.
Anne Robertson
Anne felt the call to ordination at a young age but unsure how to respond, she ignored it and instead pursued a career in hospitality while also serving God as a chorister, bellringer, PCC member and churchwarden. God’s love however is patient and persistant and eventually she could ignore the call no longer. After studying at Lindisfarne College of Theology, Anne is excited to serve her curacy at Durham, St Giles with Shadforth and Sherburn.
Lee Trevorrow-Earl
Lee was brought up in a charismatic Baptist church in the 90s but felt an increasing calling into the Church of England during his 20s and 30s. Eventually he was confirmed and with support from friends and family, felt able to express his calling to ordination in 2020. Lee has found studying at Cranmer Hall challenging but incredibly rewarding and is looking forward to serving his curacy in Spennymoor.
Priests
Grace Aciro
Gareth Gladman
It has been a real joy for Gareth to serve as deacon at Bowburn, Christ the King and Tudhoe Grange, St Andrew. He has enjoyed sharing God’s love with those he’s met along the way, particularly through the ministries of baptisms and funerals. Gareth feels ready to take the next step, where as priest he will have the privilege of presiding at Mass.
Amy Gooding
Amy was called to ministry late in life but feels that God prepared her through her previous employment and life experiences. She’s found this first year of curacy to be full of surprises, challenges and joys and has really enjoyed getting to know the communities of St. Andrew’s Haughton le Skerne, and St. Andrew’s Sadberge. Amy feels particularly privileged to have been able to celebrate welcoming people into God’s family through baptism and laying people to rest at funerals.
Sarah Heslop
Before ordination, Sarah was a teacher and she’s enjoyed being able to return to the classroom as a curate too – delivering assemblies, RE lessons and after schools clubs. She’s felt warmly welcomed by the communities of Byers Green, Croxdale, Kirk Merrington & Tudhoe during her year as deacon and feels privileged to take the next step, serving them as priest.
Alfred Jennings
Alfred has found his deacon year serving St. Paul’s Stockton on Tees deeply rewarding. Some particular highlights include seeing people come to know Jesus through an Alpha course and a growing provision for young families through Bubble Church. Alfred is excited to see how God continues to use him to serve His church and is particularly looking forward to serving people through eucharistic ministry as communion has been a place of powerful encounter for Alfred.
John Mayes
John is a self-supporting curate who still works part-time as a Project Manager for Siemens Energy. He’s enjoyed returning to his home church St. John’s Gateshead Fell where the congregation have embraced his as a member of the clergy team and has also enjoyed getting to know St. Albans Windy Nook better. John feels his time as deacon has flown with some of the highlights of the year being the joy of baptisms, the privilege of funerals and the opportunity to lead assemblies in local schools.
Bethany McNeeley
Originally from Kanas, Bethany first came to the North East 11 years ago on a 12 day trip with her church to run holiday clubs. She followed this up by spending her gap year with Tees Valley Youth 4 Christ. After three years studying at Cranmer Hall, Bethany has enjoyed serving her deacon’s year at Usworth, Holy Trinity and St Michael and All Angels. She’s learned what it looks like to walk alongside others well and has particularly enjoyed connecting with local schools and supporting community project Mickey’s Place.
Jess Monopoli
Before training at Cranmer Hall, Jess spent most of her working life as a funeral director. Having spent her first year of curacy serving St. Mary’s Cockerton, Jess loves the idea of being called back to the same place, to continue serving the people of Darlington, just in a slightly different way. As she is about to be priested, Jess is filled with both fear and excitement but also with a lot of gratitude for the solid foundation God has given her to grow into the priest He has called her to be.
Ben Scott
Before training for ordination, Ben was working in his local pub in Chester-le-Street, unsure where his life was going. Looking back now though, Ben can see this now as God preparing him. Ben has really enjoyed his year as a deacon serving Preston on Tees and Long Newton where he has felt God with him every step of the way. Ben has particularly enjoyed setting up a well-being group and also taking over leadership of the young adults group.
Kathryn Tiernan
Before being called to ordination, Kathryn spent time working in the music industry. She has really enjoyed spending her first year of curacy at Durham Cathedral. Kathryn has particularly found joy meeting with local people and visitors from around the world, feeling particularly honoured to pray with them in time of celebration but also in times of sorrow. She is delighted to be being priested and to be able to continue serving alongside the wider Cathedral team.
Gordon Tough
Gordon was a stay at home dad before deciding to follow his calling to ordination and study at Lindisfarne College of Theology. A particularly memorable moment from his deacon’s year was hosting Blue Christmas services to help those struggling. Gordon is looking forward to continuing serving at Heighington, St Michael and Darlington, St Matthew with St Luke, especially having the privilege to preside at the altar in Mass.
Miriam Wakefield
Miriam has enjoyed spending her deacon’s year serving at St. Mary’s and St. Cuthbert’s in Chester-le-Street. It has been a real joy and privilege for Miriam to get to know the local community and congregation particularly through the ministries of baptisms and funerals.
Mary Yasini
Mary studied Philosophy and Theology at Durham University before training at Westcott House. She he been delighted to walk alongside people, in her deacon’s year, as they discover Jesus for themselves. Mary has particularly enjoyed getting involved in discipleship groups, baptisms and Eco Church. Looking ahead to priesthood, Mary is looking forward to continuing to nurture people both through the word of God but also the sacraments of Holy Communion.