Five people have become Church of England priests in Brighton and Hove after being ordained in two services conducted by the Bishop of Chichester and the Bishop of Lewes.
The Bishop of Chichester Martin Warner ordained two men at St Bartholomew’s Church in Brighton – Andy Birks, who will serve at St Andrew’s, Portslade, and Robert Coupland, who will serve at St Michael and All Angels, Brighton, and St Paul’s, Brighton.
The Bishop of Lewes Richard Jackson ordained three men at Holy Cross in Uckfield where the priest in charge is Father John Wall, the former Vicar of Moulsecoomb and chaplain to the mayor of Brighton and Hove.
Bishop Richard ordained Herbert Bennett, who will serve at St Mary’s Church, in Kemp Town, Tim Gage, who will serve at Bishop Hannington Memorial Church, in Hove, and Steve Tennant, who will serve at St Cuthman’s, in Whitehawk.
Eleven other men and women were ordained in the two services and by the Bishop of Horsham Mark Sowerby in a service at St Swithun’s in East Grinstead.
The diocese of Chichester said: “Parishes turned out in great numbers to support the 16 women and men who were ordained priest in the Diocese of Chichester.
“As priests, the newly ordained will now be able to celebrate the Eucharist and offer God’s blessing. Please pray for their continued ministry.”
