The Diocese of Chester made history on 02 July 2020 when 23 deacons-to-be were commissioned to public ministry in parishes across the diocese via an online service.
23 men and women were commissioned in a service led by Bishop Keith, Acting BIshop of Chester, with Bishop Mark Tanner, Bishop-elect of Chester also taking part.
Prayers were led by Revd Canon David Herbert, Continuing Ministry Development Officer, and a homily was given by the Revd Canon Sarah Fenby, Diocesan Director of Vocations.
Hundreds of family, friends, and parishioners - past and present – joined in via Zoom and Facebook to support, pray, and mark the special moment.
In normal times the annual cohort of ordination candidates would have been made a deacon in an ordination service at Chester Cathedral, but the restrictions on public worship have meant that they have been simply commissioned into public ministry without formally being conferred the title deacon. The deacon-to-be will now be ordained in Chester Cathedral on Sunday 25 October 2020.
Watch the online service as it happened on Facebook.