Saturday 29 June saw the ordination of six new priests at a special service in Truro Cathedral, following the ordination of four deacons the previous evening.

In an amusing, gently self-deprecating sermon – that included references to rescue dogs, ‘rewilding’ and ‘restoration’ – the Archdeacon of Cornwall, the Venerable Bill Stuart-White, emphasised to the new priests their need to pursue a ministry of reconciliation.

And referring to the earlier reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians (2 Cor 5.17- 6.2), he suggested that they were now ambassadors for Christ. “I like that image that Paul uses,” he said. “The ambassador is the ‘reconciler’ par excellence … it is a high and humble calling.”

“You are [also] called to be ministers of reconciliation. That is a demanding calling. It is one you can only begin to fulfil because you yourselves are in the process of being reconciled – of being brought to peace with God, with humanity, with your environment and with yourself – through Christ. That is the basis on which Paul addresses the Corinthians – and hence ourselves – down the centuries.

“Being reconciled is tough,” said Archdeacon Bill. “It’s bruising and you already bear some of the wounds. You’ll collect more along the way; but don’t be afraid of that. That’s how they (the disciples) know it is the real Jesus; that’s how they recognise him in the Gospel* – by his wounds. That’s how ‘they’ (the people you meet) will know you’re the ‘real thing’ too.”

* [John 20.19-23]

 

Addressing the new deacons at their ordination service on the evening of Friday 28 June, the preacher, Revd Bridget Macauley, reminded them of the ‘four stances’ that they had shared during the previous few days of retreat – reaching up, looking in, sharing with others and moving out.

Referring to the first reading (Isaiah 6.1-8), she explained to the deacons that when Isaiah reached up to God, this first stance had ‘reshaped’ him such that he began to look in on himself; and that this example should help them to discover new ways of seeing themselves in ministry.

Revd Macauley suggested that the deacons should learn to share the way to which they had been called and carry the burdens of those with whom they journeyed. “Jesus knew what it felt like to be hurting, hollowed out and yet hallowed humanity. He took the cup, he takes us. We carry, we are carried. We hold in the bowls of our bodies the joys and pain of the human stories of those we serve. As we hold all this in ministry, He holds us.”

“The God who is calling and sending you,” she concluded, “Also moves out with you from this place. And this God is faithful.”

Transcript of Archdeacon Bill’s sermon

Transcript of Revd Bridget Macauley’s sermon

NEW PRIESTS

  • Revd Paul John Beynon (Boscastle and Davidstow)
  • Revd Caspar James Barnard Bush (Perranzabuloe and Crantock with Cubert)
  • Revd Angela Jean Cooper (St Just in Roseland and St Mawes)
  • Revd Annie HenryHolland (Ludgvan, Marazion, St Hilary and Perranuthnoe)
  • Revd Neil John Potter (Redruth Team Ministry)
  • Revd Nicholas John Widdows (Fowey)

 

NEW DEACONS

  • Revd Heather Jane Aston (Meneage Benefice)
  • Revd Jane Bradbury (Helston and Wendron)
  • Revd Peter Graham Butterfield (Gulval and Madron)
  • Revd John Christopher Jukes (Saltash)