02/01/2024
Eight deacons will be ordained priest by the bishops of the Diocese of York over the weekend 6th - 7th January, in or close to the parish where they serve as Curate.
As a priest each will be able to carry out the full range of sacraments amongst the community and congregation, including presiding at Holy Communion.
Biographies of the candidates appear below with the details of their ordination services.
The Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd Dr John Thomson, will ordain:
• The Revd Bronnie Broadhurst at All Saints' Church, Pocklington, at 10.30am on Saturday 6th January. Bronnie was a Reader for 25 years before her ordination as deacon in 2019, and serves in Pocklington. She has two married children and two grandchildren. “I am convinced the Holy Spirit will give me what I need to follow God’s calling.”
Bishop John says, “Bronnie is a sacrificial servant of the Gospel. I am delighted that she will be able to develop her ministry as a priest.”
• The Revd Kingsley Boulton at St Olave's Church, York, at 2.30pm on Saturday 6th January. Kingsley served for 35 years as a Reader before his ordination as Deacon in 2018. A librarian by profession before he retired, Kingsley serves in the York City Centre group of churches.
Bishop John says, “Kingsley is an anchor person who exercises his ministry with humility and gentleness. I am delighted that he will now be able to express his gifts as a priest.”
• The Revd Andy Hagon at St Thomas’ Church, York, at 6.00pm on Saturday 6th January. His background is in education and retail.
Bishop John says ‘Andy is a passionate and lively minister whose commitment to local people and their situation is already evident in his work. I am delighted that he will be a priest to these communities.’
The Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, will ordain:
• The Revd Kath Dean and the Revd Jane Emson at St Chad's Church, Middlesbrough, at 6.00pm on Saturday 6th September.
Kath Dean was a Reader for ten years in St Oswald and St Chad, Grove Hill in Middlesbrough before her ordination as Deacon in 2019. She has three children and six grandchildren; family life is very important. She leads The Genesis Project providing the local community with various Kids' Clubs, a Parent and Toddler Group, a yearly family holiday near Scarborough and a free weekly Community Lunch. The Genesis Project has recently received one of the first King's Awards for Voluntary Service.
Jane Emson had planted a new worshipping community in Sheffield where she served as a Church Army Evangelist. She left family and friends behind to become a 'Multiply Minister' in Middlesbrough in 2019, and was ordained Deacon in 2020. The community she has founded in Middlesbrough now meets as St Thomas Church in Brambles Farm, Thorntree and Netherfields, and runs an Eco shop and various other activities in the area.
Bishop Paul comments, “Kath and Jane have each been serving the people of Middlesbrough for a number of years. They have told the story of God’s love in Jesus, and shown what a difference it makes to lives day by day. It will be a privilege to ordain them priest so that their ministries can move into a new and exciting stage.”
• The Revd David Haddon-Reece at St Mary's Church, Lastingham, at 3.00pm on Sunday 7th January. David was a Reader for 17 years before his ordination as deacon in 2019, and serves in Lastingham with Appleton le Moors, Rosedale and Cropton. An engineer and physicist, David's Christian faith was rekindled on early retirement in 1990. “In my pilgrimage of spiritual growth, it’s been a real privilege to serve as a minister, as an Electrics and Lighting Advisor, and an Honorary Chaplain at York Minster. Ordination has offered a wonderful opportunity to make God even more visible among the people of His Kingdom.”
Bishop Paul says, “David has had a long association with the moorland communities and I know that his sacramental ministry among them will be a great gift.”
The Bishop of Hull, the Rt Revd Eleanor Sanderson, will ordain:
• The Revd Shirley Hebden at St Leonard's Church, Beeford, at 6.00pm on Saturday 6th January. Shirley served as a Reader for seven years in Beeford with Lissett and Dunnington with Frodingham and Foston with Leven and Brandesburton, after a career in adult education working in prisons, college and the community. “I then felt the call to further develop my ministry in the community, and this led to offering myself for ordination." Shirley, who becomes Priest-in-Charge of Beeford on her ordination to the priesthood, enjoys times with family and friends, reading, walking, cooking for others and quizzing.
Bishop Eleanor says, “It has been a joy to witness Shirley’s leadership amongst us in the East Riding in her role as Area Dean and now to see her say yes to a new calling from Jesus in our church family”.
• The Revd Diane Berry at All Saints' Church, Roos, at 10.30am on Sunday 7th January. Diane serves in the Benefice of South Holderness Coast. With Alan she has two daughters and five grandchildren. Diane became a Reader in November 2017 and was ordained Deacon in 2019, ten years after her first sense of a call to ordination. “Amazingly, God brings those he calls to where they need to be despite any obstacles.”
Bishop Eleanor reflects, “Diane has been a witness to the joy of the Gospel, particularly in her intergenerational ministry. I am so thankful to God for calling Diane and I am so thankful to Diane for her ongoing faith, courage and love for Jesus and the communities that she will serve in Christ’s name”.
The Diocese of York’s Start of Ordained Ministries Adviser the Revd Mandy Coutts said, "This group of seven deacons have an average age of 70; the eldest is 78, they are living proof that when we have the courage to say ‘Yes’ to God’s invitation there are no limits to what God can do through us. As we pray for them, we also pray that this New Year each one of us will also say ‘Yes’ to God’s invitation to make ourselves available to his plans."