Bishop says ‘hello’ to 21 new Lancashire priests before his own ‘goodbye’ later this month

The Church of England has ordained 21 new priests in Lancashire over the weekend.
Bishop Julian Henderson with Lancashire's 21 new priests.Bishop Julian Henderson with Lancashire's 21 new priests.
Bishop Julian Henderson with Lancashire's 21 new priests.

The Bishop of Blackburn carried out the ordinations of 19 of the newcomers at Blackburn Cathedral on Saturday. The remaining two were carried out by the Bishop of Burnley in Accrington on Sunday.

Amongst the new arrivals are a solicitor, an NHS physiotherapist, a former Royal Military Police officer, a teacher, a student welfare officer and a civil servant.

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Four will take up posts in Preston and two in Leyland, with others starting work at churches in Broughton, Chorley, Euxton, Longridge, Higher Walton/Hoghton and Rufford/Tarleton.

The Bishop of Blackburn is set to retire later this month.The Bishop of Blackburn is set to retire later this month.
The Bishop of Blackburn is set to retire later this month.
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Saturday's ordinations were the last carried out by the Bishop, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson, before he retires later this month after nine years in the job.

He said: "God is always asking, whom shall I send? So, it is always a humbling moment for me as a Bishop to be able to ordain men and women who have responded to his call to serve His church.

"It is the end of a long journey for a number of people. Some have been exploring ordination for many years.

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"Whether someone has been called to this role of leadership in the life of the church needs to be prayerfully considered. It’s not an easy job and we don’t rush into these things.”

Bishop Julian added: "It has been an extraordinary privilege and honour over these past nine years to be able to ordain and release many men and women into authorised ministry in the Church of England as the Bishop of Blackburn.”

The youngest of the ordinands, 25-year-old Amy Bland, will take up a role at Euxton Parish Church. Rev Bland hails from Comberton near Cambridge and numbers indoor rock climbing amongst her hobbies.

The oldest is 58-year-old Simon King who was born and brought up in Preston and was educated at the city's Catholic College. Rev King has been working on community schemes in Clayton Brook and will now serve St Lawrence with St Paul at Longridge.

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Physio Liz Gethin, 39, was also born in Preston and has worked in the NHS for 19 years. She will join St Cuthbert's Church, Fulwood.

And Simon Griffiths, who will take up a role at All Saints Church in Preston, was born in Warwickshire and worked as a lawyer.

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