Petertide Ordination

Newport Cathedral was packed with over five hundred people on Saturday 28th June as the Bishop ordained three new priests and two deacons to serve in the Diocese of Monmouth. ‘I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday,’ said the Bishop who was sixty that day.

The new priests are: Revd Jeremy Harris who will continue as curate in the Monmouth Group of Parishes; Revd Hermione Long, who is curate in Bassaleg; Revd Nick Perry who is curate in Ebbw Vale as well as being a college lecturer. They were all ordained as deacons last year. Now they are priests, they will be able to preside at a service of Holy Communion and take on a wider sacramental ministry in their parishes.

The new deacons are Revd Victoria Ashley, who becomes curate in Tredegar, and Revd John Hughes who becomes curate in Abergavenny. As new deacons, Victoria and John will be ‘learning the ropes’ in their new parishes as they visit the sick and elderly, teach the young, reach out to the community, and generally support the priest and people of the parish.

Revd Stephen Adams, Dean of Ministry Development in St Michael’s College, Llandaff, preached at the service. He told the five that they have a role of leadership, showing by their example what it means to live as a Christian in the twenty first century. ‘You have ahead of you a life’s exploration of the generosity of God’s love,’ he said.

As part of the formalities the Bishop asked the congregation ‘Are these five ordinands worthy and will you support them?’. The response ‘They are worthy, we will support them,’ was so enthusiastic it didn’t need a second time of asking.