Bath and Wells welcomes our new Lay Curates

Bath and Wells has 16 new Lay Curates who will be ordained Deacon (new reverends being ordained for the first time) in September. Continued coronavirus restrictions have meant the group, like those ordained Deacon last year, have been licensed as Lay Curates and have begun work in the parishes where they will serve their curacy.

Bishop Ruth licenced the Lay Curates in the Chapel at the Bishop’s Palace and spoke about about welcome as she reflected on the reading from Matthew 10. 40-end.

Among the Lay Curates are a dance teacher, school and hospital chaplains, a pharmaceutical marketing manager and those who have worked overseas for charity organisations. They bring diverse experiences in family and children’s work, youth and schools worship, community work and chaplaincy.

Husband and wife Imogen and Jon Ball are not only being ordained together, they will be serving in the same Benefice; Trull with Angersleigh. Imogen says, “ Jon and I were surprised to be on this journey of ordination together but are so excited about sharing this ministry throughout the rest of our lives.”

Katy Partridge who is going to serve her curacy in the Benefice of Combe Down with Monkton Combe and South Stoke says “I’m really excited, there is so much going on in the benefice in different contexts. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they’re doing and getting to know the people, working with them and learning from them.”

The group will be ordained at Wells Cathedral on Saturday 25 September.

• Cath Candish to serve in Benefice of Bath Abbey with St James, Bath
• Fiona Mayne to serve in Haywood Village, Locking Deanery
• George Beverley Benefice of Yeovil with Kingston Pitney
• Imogen Ball to serve in Benefice of Trull with Angersleigh
• John Rollings to serve in Benefice of Chard St Mary with Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton
• Jonathan Ball to serve in Benefice of Trull with Angersleigh
• Judith Swan to serve in Benefice of Ilminster and Whitelackington
• Juliet Gosling-Brown to serve in Wiveliscombe and the Hills Benefice
• Kara Maylor to serve in Christ Church Bath 
• Katy Partridge to serve in Benefice of Combe Down with Monkton Combe and South Stoke
• Larissa Trust to serve in Benefice of Christ Church and Emmanuel, Weston super Mare
• Neil Biddiscombe to serve in Parish of Three Saints
• Nick Jarrett to serve in Blackdown Benefice
• Nicola Bradford to serve in Benefice of Aisholt, Enmore, Goathurst, Nether Stowey, Over Stowey and Spaxton with Charlynch (known as The Quantock Villages)
• Ruth Motion to serve in Benefice of Cheddar, Draycott and Rodney Stoke
• Steve Miles to serve in Benefice of Chilcompton with Downside and Stratton on the Fosse

Join us in praying for all our Lay Curates in the rich variety of their traditions and vocations.

You can see more photos from the licensing on the Bath and Wells Facebook page.