Petertide ordinations will take place on Saturday 27 June and Sunday 28 June at Durham Cathedral with nine people being ordained as priests and seven as deacons.
Our soon-to-be deacons will be serving their titles in parishes across our Diocese – please give them a warm welcome if you see them in your parish. Our new priests, who began ordained ministry as deacons last year, will continue to serve their existing parishes as curates.
You can find out more about each of our ordinands below...
Deacons
Paula Barber
I was licensed as a Reader in 2022, and this June I will be ordained as Deacon. I will serve my curacy in my home parish of North Wearside alongside my ministry as a prison chaplain, and it feels a real privilege to take this next step where my faith has been nurtured.
Throughout my Reader training, I often sensed God calling me towards ordination, but each time my answer was “no”. I could see too many barriers. I was in a different career then, and I gave myself many reasons why ordination could not be for me. Looking back, I can now see how many of those barriers were of my own making.
Everything changed when God led me into prison chaplaincy. In stepping into that role, I realised that the obstacles I had been holding onto were no longer there, and the call to ordination became clearer, stronger, and impossible to ignore.
From first speaking to my priest about ordination to now being only months away, the time has passed quickly. I feel both nervous and excited about what lies ahead, but I trust that God, who has walked with me already, will walk with me always faithfully.
Jim Cochran
It was Jim’s dream to become a researcher and he studied Physics at university with this in mind. However, he felt God calling him in another direction, to ordination, where he could serve both God and people. After studying at Westcott House, Jim is ready to return to the North East and get stuck in serving at St Chad’s Sunderland.
Eleanor Cockayne
Eleanor was a secondary school teacher before a sudden change in circumstances caused her to re-evaluate her next steps and she felt God calling her to explore ordination. Eleanor studied at Lindisfarne College of Theology and is excited to serve her curacy at Christ Church New Seaham.
Meet our Ordinands: Sue Cooke
Faith has always been important to Sue even from a young age, and its been a constant throughout her life, including during 35 years of nursing in the NHS. Following retirement five years ago, Sue felt called to ordination, studying at Lindisfarne College of Theology. She feels humbled to be called to serve her home parish, Christ Church New Seaham.
Alison Donnison
I’ve been studying towards ordination at Lindisfarne College of Theology for three years. It has been an amazing experience. I feel excited and a bit scared as I approach ordination day but I am looking forward so much to serving my curacy in The Benefice of The Boldons where I have lived for most of my life.
There’s no one more surprised that me that I am going to be ordained as a permanent deacon in Durham Cathedral at the end of June!
I’ve been a Christian all my life and my earliest member of church is being so small that I could sit on the kneeler at Saint Nicholas Church, West Boldon and my head would fit underneath the hymn book shelf.
I was a listener at Durham Cathedral for five years before Covid but of course everything had to stop and after covid, I asked if there was anything I could do to help in church, thinking that I could make coffee or bake cakes. I ended up going on a Wings for Worship course which I absolutely loved. Then I did the Authorised Lay Ministry course which, when it finished, I still felt called to do more. I asked if I could train as a Licenced Lay Minister and was told ‘absolutely not!’ because I had been being a Deacon all my life. I declared the meeting an ‘absolute disaster’ and went home!
Walking to Holy Island on a barefoot pilgrimage, my dad’s favourite Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas came in to my head. I thought about the part of the carol where he walks in his master’s footsteps and I could see all the footprints ahead of me, urging me forward. I began to say the Celtic prayer, Christ as a shield overshadow me, Christ under me, Christ over me, Christ beside me on my left and on my right and this was the point I thought I really need to do something about this. So I went back to hear those words ‘I told you so’ and here I am!
Sue Elsey
Sue has felt called to ordination her entire adult life but until about three years ago when doors started opening, she thought the opportunity had passed her by. Sue is excited to be serving her curacy at St Michael & All Angels in Houghton le Spring, where she has worshipped for over 30 years and spent the last 23 years there as a Reader.
John Hinton
John’s journey to ordination has been a long one. Despite several prompts throughout the years, he ruled himself out but they kept coming until he could no longer ignore them. John studied at Lindisfarne College of Theology and following ordination, is looking forward to serving in St Alban’s Windy Nook, St John’s Gateshead Fell and St Ninian’s Harlow Green. More about our #NewRevs ->
Katie Malcolm
Ordination was not a vocation Katie was expecting but she has been eased into it gently; first with lay pastoral minister training in 2019 before God persuaded her during a quiet moment at Raby Deer Park that she needed to take the next step towards ordination. After training at Lindisfarne College of Theology, Katie is looking forward to serving her curacy in Shildon and Eldon. More about our #NewRevs ->
Susanna Wall
Prior to ordination, Susanna was a primary school teacher but after becoming a parent, a move to part-time allowed her to spend more time in her local church and community where she really enjoyed walking alongside others. This lead to a niggle to explore what God might be calling her to and lead her to study at Lindisfarne College of Theology. Susanna is excited to serve her curacy in the Benefice of the Boldons. More about our #NewRevs ->
Priests
Emily Carling
Emily describes her year as a deacon as a “whirlwind of the best kind.” She’s enjoyed serving her local communities and congregations at Stockton St Peter, All Saints Hartburn and Elton St John, walking alongside them during joys and sorrows. She’s particularly enjoyed being involved in the launch of a new youth group and secondary school club. As Emily looks towards ordination to the priesthood, she’s particularly excited to be able to welcome all of God’s people to feast at his table.
Katherine Cooper-Young
Katherine has served her year as a deacon at St Nicholas Bishopwearmouth and has particularly enjoyed getting alongside children and young people in her local community through a wide range of imaginative events and activities, giving them the opportunity to ask questions and learn how to share their faith. Katherine is excited to be ordained priest and to see how God plans for her ministry to grow and develop.
Ray Leonard
Ray never anticipated what a diverse and joy-filled year he might have serving as a deacon at Sunderland Minister. He’s particularly enjoyed supporting people as they prepare for confirmation or baptism and walking alongside people during funeral ministry. Ray is looking forward to continued formation as he is ordained priest.
Claire Mead
Claire has really enjoyed her first year as a curate, serving All Saints Stranton and St Luke’s Hartlepool. She’s embraced the opportunity to share God’s love with others in a wide variety of ways including Open the Book sessions in a local school, care home visits, walking alongside the bereaved through funeral ministry and organising All Saints 900th anniversary celebrations. Claire is excited to see what God has in store for her next as she is ordained priest. More about our #NewRevs ->
Helen Miller
Helen feels hugely privileged to be serving her curacy at St Nics Durham, building relationships and meeting people where they are at. A particular highlight of her year has been giving people the opportunity to encounter God for themselves; for example, through both their Open Church project and offering prayer and chaplaincy during the Lumiere festival. Helen is excited to be ordained to the priesthood, to grow and deepen her own formation. More about our #NewRevs ->
Donna Robinson
It has been an honour and a pleasure for Donna to serve her first year of curacy in the parishes of Blaydon, High Spen and Rowlands Gill. She’s continued to also work as an Asda Community Champion alongside her role as deacon. These roles go hand in hand and Donna feels that God has put her exactly where she is needed. Donna has enjoyed walking alongside others during both their joys and heartaches. She is excited to be priests and see where God leads her next. More about our #NewRevs ->