CAPTION: Reverend Tatiana Wilson is ordained wearing a stole made out of her wedding dress
Being Ordained as a Priest is “a Special Moment”
For Reverend Tatiana Wilson her ordination as a priest was a significant moment.
She said “It was particularly special because more of my family could be at the service this year, including my parents, now they have been vaccinated.”
Tatiana was one of 16 people being ordained priest at churches in Tavistock, Barnstaple, Plymouth, Torquay and Exeter on 25 and 26 September.
Bishop Robert with some of the new priests in Plymouth
In the Church of England, ministers are initially ordained as deacons for 12 months.
Some of them go on to be ordained as priests in a church service led by a bishop.
During the service, the deacon is given a stole to wear over his or her robes to show they are now a priest.
Tatiana explained “I made my ordination stole out of my wedding dress with my friend’s help and my parish paid for it, so that was really special.
“I will wear it for significant services like baptisms.
Once someone is ordained as a priest they are permitted to perform weddings and officiate at Communion services.
Others ministers choose to continue as deacons, working in a variety of roles, including as chaplains.
Bishop Nick with Hazel Butland and Rosie Illingworth
Tatiana, who also works as an education advisor, for the Diocese of Exeter said she was looking forward to celebrating her first Communion service at St Mark’s church in Exeter, where she is a curate.
The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev’d Jackie Searle, said “The ordinations were wonderful services, full of joy and a sense of God’s presence.
“In the ordination service, new priests are asked ‘Will you then, in the strength of the Holy Spirit, continually stir up the gift of God that is in you, to make Christ known among all whom you serve?’
“They then answer ‘With the help of God I will’.
“It is helpful for all of us to ask ourselves that question: What is the gift in you? What is the core of your calling and being?”
Tatiana with her family after the ordination service
The full list of new priests and their Mission Communities is: Rev’d Hazel Butland and Rev’d Rosie Illingworth (Tavistock, Gulworthy and Brent Tor), Rev’d Paul Sutton (St Leonard with Holy Trinity), Rev’d Christopher Hutchins (Bideford, Landcross, Littleham, Monkleigh and Weare Gifford), Rev’d Ann Hosking (Eggbuckland with Estover), Rev’d Robin Brown (Plymouth Emmanuel, Saint Paul Efford and Saint Augustine), Rev’d Philip Cairns (Plymouth Saint Andrew and Saint Paul Stonehouse), Rev’d Michael Knight (Charles with Saint Matthias, Plymouth), Rev’d Jonathan Devereux (St Mark’s, Ford in conjunction with Lee Abbey Fellowship, Rev’d Ashley Leighton Plomb (St David’s, Exeter), Rev’d Tatiana Wilson (St Mark’s, Exeter), Rev’d Vanessa Pestridge (St Matthew with St Sidwell, Exeter), Rev’d Tracey Voysey (Axminster, All Saints Axmouth, Chardstock, Combpyne with Rousden, Membury and Uplyme), Rev’d Emma Dornan (Upton and St Mary Magdalene, Torquay), Benjamin Maynard (Newton Abbot), Matthew Gorton (Kingsbridge, Dodbrooke and West Alvington).
