Diocese prepared for ordinations

The Diocese of Ely will hold two ordination services this weekend with eight people being ordained deacon and nine as priest.

At this time of the year, those candidates who are called to ordained ministry in the Church of England gather together with bishops in their Cathedrals.

To become a priest, candidates will serve as deacon for one year and then return for ordination.

On Saturday 2 July (3pm) in Ely Cathedral, the Bishop of Ely, Stephen Conway, will ordain deacons and priests in a special service which will include readings, hymns and music to reflect the joy and solemnity of the occasion.

The following day Bishop Lindsay Urwin will be ordaining one candidate as priest on Sunday 3 July (5pm) in the Parish Church of St Edmund, Downham Market.

Bishop Conway published a You Tube interview on the Diocesan website last week in which he said: “I am really looking forward to my first ordination as Bishop of Ely. There is a great variety of people that God is calling to serve among us so it is an enormous privilege for me to be with these people, united with all their friends, family and the parishes they are going to be serving in, in the Cathedral. Wonderful!”