CAPTION: The Bishops of Exeter Diocese with the newly ordained ministers
20 New Church Ministers for Devon Ordained at Exeter Cathedral
20 people have been ordained as church ministers at Exeter Cathedral this weekend, the highest number in recent times.
They will now be serving in parishes across Devon, including in villages, towns, coastal and urban communities.
19 men and women were ordained deacon in a packed service at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 27 June.
Rev’d Rich Kelly celebrates with family after being ordained
This followed a smaller ordination service at the Bishop’s Palace Chapel in Exeter for one candidate on health grounds on Friday 26 June.
Rev’d Elizabeth Flaherty will be serving as a curate in Barnstaple and trained at St Stephen’s House in Oxford. She said after the service “I’m so excited, it’s been the most wonderful experience. I grew up in the Church and more and more I felt God calling me to devote more of my life to him.”
“I’m most looking forward to getting to know the people in my new parish. I really love people and I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone.”
Rev’d Rich Kelly became a committed Christian when he was 14 and worked as a secondary school music teacher and church worship and youth leader before training for ordination in Plymouth.
Some of the new ministers who trained on the Exeter Ordination Pathway
He commented “I feel quite emotional and excited about what God has done here today and what he is going to be doing in the coming weeks and years. I’m most looking forward to getting to pray for people, particularly for healing.”
Rev’d Antonia Tregenza is one of the 10 of the new members of clergy who trained for ordination with the Bishop of Exeter through the new 12-month Exeter Ordination Pathway.
She said “It’s been a wonderful joyful journey and an incredible emotional rollercoaster, but we’re there now and it’s just so wonderful.”
The Bishop of Exeter said after the service that he was “overjoyed” that so many people had chosen to step forward for ordination, which would be a benefit to so many communities across Devon.
