Ordination a family affair for bishop

THE Bishop of Manchester will be welcoming a bumper crop when he ordains 44 clergy this weekend — but there will be at least one familiar face.

For the Bishop’s wife Celia will be one of those ordained by the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch at Manchester Cathedral. She is to serve as a full-time stipendiary curate in the parish of Cheetham.

Also among those being ordained Deacon on Sunday will be Tony Ford, of Christ Church, Chadderton, Miles Howarth, of St John’s Church, Failsworth, and Maureen Stirzaker, of St Matthew with St Luke’s Church, Chadderton.

Tomorrow, Paul Monk, of Oldham Team Ministry, will be ordained priest.

There are so many people being ordained that the Diocese of Manchester has had to lay on three separate services.

The bishop said: “Ordinations are always special occasions. Each of our 44 ordinands has been through a prayerful selection process and received full training. So the day of ordination represents the end of one part of a journey and the start of another.

“It is an honour for a bishop, and in my case a special honour for a husband, to be part of that journey. I hope the many communities across Greater Manchester, that will welcome these new clergy, will pray for them as they begin their work.”

Mrs McCulloch said: “Like my fellow ordinands, I am looking forward to working in my new parish. All of us have responded to God’s call; to serve those in need, to lead people in prayer and teach and encourage by word and example.”

The events are a special occasion for family and friends and with so many people being ordained there will be over 3,000 people attending.

The increase in people coming forward is partly put down to the success of local training schemes and the careful encouragement of parish clergy.

Currently the Church of England has 1,425 people training to be ordained, which is the highest number of trainee clergy of any denomination in the country.