2021: Tom is looking to bridge the gap on land and at sea
Among those being ordained as a deacon in the Petertide Services at Truro Cathedral later this month is Tom Ebbens from Constantine.
Tom’s journey to ordination began in earnest in 2016 when he arrived in Constantine with his wife, two daughters and their miniature schnauzer dog.
“Something about the style of the worshipping community really resonated with me and I began to take faith seriously. It was after the Manchester Arena bombings in 2017, when profound questions arose within me about place and purpose that I felt a call to ordination.”
Having explored what that meant with his parish priest and the Diocesan Director of Ordinands, Tom also undertook a couple of valuable test-the-water placements in the diocese.
Tom’s day job is in search and rescue, as a Senior Coastal Operations Officer with HM Coastguard. “My role takes me across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, training, managing and responding to incidents with some of our wonderful volunteer Coastguard Rescue Teams. I am also the chaplain to the wider Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), some 5,000 people, spread out across the four nations of the UK.”
Tom began training with South West Ministry Training Course (SWMTC) in 2018. “Being with SWMTC allowed me to continue to work and raise a young family in our own home in balance with study, placements and leadership opportunities in my home church of St Constantine. It’s been hard work but a great experience all round, bolstered by the experience of creating and leading a Multi-faith Chaplaincy for the MCA.”
Tom says he is looking forward to continuing his learning as he begins service as a self-supporting curate in Kerrier Deanery, with particular focus in the areas of Helston, Wendron and Constantine. “I have a particular affinity for being church amongst the unchurched and for bridging the gap between the pub and the pew.”
Tom is one of six people who will be ordained as deacon at Truro Cathedral on Friday, June 25. A further eight people will be ordained as priests at the cathedral on Saturday, June 26.
