Joy and sunshine as new deacons strengthen the diocese

Seventeen new deacons ordained at Ripon Cathedral

Seventeen new deacons have been ordained at two services in Ripon Cathedral this weekend (Saturday July 4th) - a week after twenty one curates were ordained as priests at services throughout the diocese over the weekend of June 27th/28th , strengthening the leadership of churches across all five Areas,

The new deacons include a former professional wrestler, a Leeds nightclub doorman, a drummer in a band, a record producer, a Scottish dancer who plays in a ceilidh band and a long distance lorry driver as well as church school head teacher and a tenor in the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus amongst others.

Deacons at Ripon Cathedral 11am Deacons at second Ripon service

Deacons with Bishop Nick at 11am (Bradford, Leeds & Huddersfield EAs) Deacons with Bishop Nick at 3pm (Ripon and Huddersfield EAs)

(Left picture - Back row, left to right: Nick Lattimer, Craig Tomlinson, (Bishop Nick), Andrew Howarth, Phil Maries.
front row left to right: Olasupo Ogunyinka, Sue Jennings, Caroline Harrison, Tracey Raistrick)

(Right picture - Back row, left to right: Claire Renshaw, Nick Morgan, (Bishop Nick), Alison Stewart-Smith, Jonathan Cain
Front row, left to right: John Dracup, Evelyn Barrow, Linda Maslen, Marcus Bull, Jack Parkes)

Learn more here about our new deacons:

Phil

Wakefield Episcopal Area:

Phil Maries - All Saints Normanton. Phil trained on the Yorkshire Ministry Course (YMC). Prior to that he was a reader and worship leader at St George’s Lupset Wakefield. Married to Belinda, with two grown up children, he has spent most of his working life as an HGV driver. He is also a keen motorcyclist and recently took part in the Iona pilgrimage from the diocese.

Caroline Harrison – Royston and Felkirk. Prior to training at Cuddesdon, Caroline was a member of Trinity Church Ossett, a district nurse running her own cottage industry creating crafts.

Craig Tomlinson - St. Mary the Virgin with St. Paul the Apostle in Barnsley. A former professional wrestler, Craig trained for ordination at Mirfield. He was a Church Warden in the Ewecross Deanery and a telecommunications engineer, first in the Army and then for British Telecom. He is married to Claire with four children

Bradford Episcopal Area

Sue Sue Jennings - St Paul’s Manningham . Sue was a paediatric physiotherapist in the inner city of Birmingham. A year ago Sue moved to Bradford from Worcester Diocese with her husband, Ian, now incumbent of Holy Trinity, Low Moor and St Andrew’s, Oakenshaw. They have two children. Sue trained for ordination at St John’s College, Nottingham.

Andrew Andrew Howorth - St Peter’s Addingham. Andrew trained for ordination at the Northern Federation for training in Ministry and latterly on the YMC. He works for the NHS as head of patient experience in mental health and learning disabilities. He enjoys amateur theatre and has performed in or directed a wide range of productions both in the Church and in local theatres around Bradford.

Tracey Tracey Raistrick - St. Mark’s, Utley and Keighley shared Church. She trained for ordination at Mirfield and has three grown-up daughters and three grandsons. She loves walking with her two spaniels on the moors and reading.

Leeds Episcopal Area

Olasupo Olasupo Ogunyinka - St Mary's and St David's, Beeston. Prior to training on the YMC at Mirfield, Supo was a Reader and Worship Leader in Meanwood parish church. He was a NHS Stroke Service Manager and a qualified Chartered Management Accountant. He is married to Barbara with two grown up sons.

Nick Nick Lattimer - St James' Woodside, Leeds. Nick trained at Trinity College, Bristol and is married to Emily. Before working briefly for his church, for Yorkshire Water, then a social enterprise, Nick studied modern languages at Leeds University and enjoys travel and foreign cultures.

Huddersfield EA

Linda Maslem - Christ Church Pellon and St Augustine's Halifax and as pioneer curate to the Saturday Gathering and Family Gathering. Linda is married Linda to Dave and together they have three grown up children. She trained on the YMC whilst working as a director at Capita PLC – she is a trustee of Christians Together Calderdale and New Wine.

John John Dracup - St John the Baptist, Coley . He trained at Cranmer Hall in Durham. Prior to that he was a member of All Saints Church in Normanton and spent most of his working life in farming, He is married to Fiona and they have two children.

Marcus Bull - Erringden Benefice, Calder Valley, and continuing his educational chaplaincy role at Trinity Academy Halifax, where he also teaches A Level and GCSE Religious Studies. He is married to Claire and they have one child. Marcus is a keen and accomplished musician and a frustrated biker.

Evelyne Barrow - Upper Home Valley Team. Evelyne trained on the Yorkshire Ministry Course having served in the Parish of St Michael’s Emley in a variety of roles. She is married to Ian and has two children. She is a Evelyne Headteacher at St Aidan’s Church Aided First School in Skelmanthorpe.

Jack Parkes –Cleckheaton Benefice. Jack trained on the YMC having previously served with the Lutheran Church in Great Britain – he was for many years a teacher in Cleckheaton and now works for Bradford College as a Link-Tutor, supporting student teachers on their teaching practices. He is Jack married to Rachel with two grown up daughters, and he sings in the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus.

Ripon EA

Claire Claire Renshaw - Knaresborough Team. Claire trained on the YMC contextual pathway at Mirfield and previously trained as a Reader. Prior to college, Claire was a self -employed accountant and parish administrator, spent a short time teaching accountancy at Joseph Priestly College and was also involved in lay ministry at St James in Wetherby. She is married to Steve and they have two children.

Alison Alison Stewart Smith - Swaledale with Arkengarthdale. Alison trained at Cranmer Hall in Durham, prior to which she had been a teacher of modern languages, a teaching assistant and administrator. She has also worked for the Iona and at Scargill House where she met her husband Richard.

Jonathan Cain - St Mary and St Cuthbert, Bolton Abbey. Jonathan, a civil engineer, trained on the Yorkshire Ministry Course, and is married to Rebecca. The couple have four sons.

Nick Morgan - Masham and Healey-Well with Snape and West Tanfield & North Stanley. Nick married to Kate and father of two girls. Nick Formerly a record producer, then early years teacher, Nick's recent ministry focus has been in developing Ripon Cathedral's online ministries.

Priests

The ordination of priests who have normally served a year as curates took place in their respective Areas on Saturday June 27 at 3pm – at Bradford Cathedral, Huddersfield Parish Church, Leeds Minster, and Ripon Cathedral. More on our web pages

Leeds Leeds - more here