Surrey: three ordained to Permanent Diaconate

During June, three men were ordained Deacons in Surrey for the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton: Ian Wells who worked in the oil industry was ordained deacon on 7 June at Holy Spirit Church, Fetcham; Aidan Lynch, a company director was ordained on 28 June at St John of Rochester, Egham Hythe; and finally Tim Murrill, a science teacher who became a deacon on 29 June at St Joseph's, Redhill.

All three men are married and have children. Their three wives, Jean, Chris and Nicki all support them wholeheartedly in their new ministry. Aidan and Tim will continue to work in their secular jobs whilst at the same time working part-time in their new ministry for the local community. Ian who is retired will work full-time now in parish ministry.

Aidan said on behalf of all three of them: "This is a great occasion as we look forward to our ministry as a deacon. We are really committed to providing pastoral and spiritual care for the local community. Tim and I will be combining this with our existing jobs. We all feel that faith and belief are not just to be lived out in a church or on a Sunday but should be part of whatever you do and that we are to be a witness to the world of God's love."

Bishop Kieran Conry, the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton Diocese, presided at all three ordinations alongside priests and deacons as well as family, friends and fellow parishioners.

As part of the ceremony Bishop Kieran laid his hands on their heads, just as the first apostles did to those first Christian disciples who they invited to share in the mission given to the apostles by Jesus. He also embraced the new deacon in a sign of peace and then that deacon exchanged the same with all the deacons present.

Finally he blessed both the newly ordained deacon and his wife, and offered a prayer of thanks for the wife's support of her husband.

"We now have 33 active deacons in this diocese who represent about a quarter of all clergy in the diocese. They form part, with all the hundreds of committed lay people and the priests, of a new way of working in the Church. We are tapping into something that has ancient roots in the early Church but that is being adapted for present needs. Next year we hope to have four new men starting there training alongside two all ready in training. The future for the diaconate in this diocese is very bright!" said Deacon Paul Scholey, Director of Diaconate Formation.