A weekend of celebration with 19 ordinations in Gloucester Cathedral

Published: Sunday June 30, 2024

The group of people to be ordained priest gather for a selfie around the altar9 people were ordained priest and 10 people ordained deacon in two huge services at Gloucester Cathedral over the last weekend of June. Friends, family and congregations packed the Cathedral in joyful and prayerful support as these people dedicated their lives to serving God and serving their communities.

The Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Rt Revd Robert Springett led the services and the Dean of Gloucester, the Very Revd Andrew Zhini led the ordination retreat and shared his insight from the pulpit at both services.

Bishop Robert said, “Deacons are ordained so that the people of God may be better equipped to make Christ known.

“There is a life of visible self-giving.”

The priests “are ordained to lead God’s people in the offering of praise and the proclamation of the gospel. They share with the Bishop in the oversight of the Church, delighting in its beauty and rejoicing in its well-being.”

The new deacons lined up before the serviceClergy from across the Diocese of Gloucester, laid hands on the ordinands and prayed for God’s Holy Spirit to be sent down upon the men and women, to equip them for their new roles and the congregation loudly agreed to pray for them and support them in their ministry.

All the ordinands were reminded of their dependence on God. “You cannot bear the weight of this calling in your own strength, but only by the grace and power of God. Pray therefore that your heart may daily be enlarged and your understanding of the scriptures enlightened.”

As the services ended, on Saturday and on Sunday, both sets of ordinands were greeted by whoops of delight and applause by the congregation and the organist played a Finale as the procession left through the West door.

You can find Facebook albums of the pictures here.

Ordination of priests →

Ordination of deacons →

For high resolution copies of any of the photographs, please contact Sam Cavender in the Diocesan Communications Team.

Livestream footage of the ordination of priests, Saturday 29 June

 

 

Livestream footage of the ordination of deacons, Sunday 30 June

 

 

Bishop Robert lays on hands

Children play with water beads in the chill out area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The word Leadership spelt out, with Committed to Transformation written underneath.

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