Ordinations in the Holy Church of God: Nicholas Ferrar; Deacon and The Community of Little Gidding.
The second Ordination Eucharist of Bishop John Stephens’ episcopacy was celebrated at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver on the morning of December 4, 2021. The liturgy marked the Commemoration of Nicholas Ferrar, a deacon of the English Church who died in 1637, after eleven years at Little Gidding, a place in Huntingdon where he shared his family’s enterprise of a godly household.
The two ordinands were Martha Cameron, presented by the Reverend Emilie Smith and Mr. Roland Gwan; and Neil Seedhouse presented by the Reverend Christine Wilson and Neil’s spouse, Ms. Pam Martin, ODNW. Martha was raised up for ordination through her parish, the Parish of St. Barnabas, New Westminster, and Neil through the Parish of St. Mary Magdalene. Neil has a long history of service to parishes in the diocese of New Westminster as an employee, contractor, and volunteer. Both Martha and Neil will serve at the Parish of St. Barnabas. Prior to the beginning of worship, the Reverend Emilie Smith, Rector of St. Barnabas could be seen with a big smile on her face as she would now be in shared ordained ministry with not one but two deacons.
The ordinands began their ordination weekend, December 2 with a retreat at Consolation of Theotokos at Williamson’s Landing on the Sunshine Coast hosted by the Reverend Brian Heinrich and his partner Nathan. The retreat leader was Chaplain to the Ordinands, deacon, the Reverend Karin Fulcher, who was the preacher for the liturgy. In her homily, the Reverend Fulcher made reference to the Commemoration of Nicholas Ferrar being observed that day and his remarkable example of service to God.
"Today we are celebrating another wonderful diaconal life: Nicholas Ferrar a deacon of the English church who founded a community with his family at Little Gidding. If that name sounds familiar to you it is likely because it was made famous by TS Eliot in his eponymous poem which is one of The Four Quartets. Nicholas and his family moved to Little Gidding in 1626 to a rather derelict manor house and hay barn which had once been a chapel. They formed a rather strict religious community consisting of his immediate family but also various nieces and nephews and together they restored the farm, providing them with a livelihood. This also enabled them to care for their neighbours, setting up a school for the local children, and caring for the sick and the destitute.
As it says in For All the Saints, Nicholas Ferrar’s vocation was to partner with his entire family to study true wisdom and perfection in Christ Jesus, build up each other’s faith and to practise a constant round of service to their rural community."
This liturgy also included the Collation of the Archdeacon of Lougheed and the Installation of the Regional Deans of Peach Arch Deanery and Golden Ears Deanery.
The Venerable Kelly Duncan, Rector of St. George’s, Fort Langley and now former Regional Dean of Golden Ears was collated Archdeacon by Bishop Stephens and installed by the Dean of the diocese of New Westminster, the Very Reverend Christopher A. Pappas. Archdeacons are “seated” in a stall in the Cathedral quire and are members of the Cathedral Chapter. Archdeacon Duncan succeeded the Venerable Al Carson who completed his ministry as Archdeacon of Lougheed on November 30, 2021.
The Reverend Laurel Dahill, Vicar of St. John the Divine, Maple Ridge and the Reverend Stephen Rowe, Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Surrey were appointed by Bishop John Stephens as Regional Deans of Golden Ears and Peace Arch. Rev. Dahill replacing the Venerable Kelly Duncan and Rev. Rowe replacing the Reverend Stephen Laskey who had retired at the end of September 2021. The newly collated Archdeacon, the Venerable Kelly Duncan presented Rev. Dahill for installation and the Venerable Luisito Engnan, Archdeacon of Fraser presented Rev. Rowe.
Members of Cathedral Choir under the direction of Organist and Director of Music Rupert Lang led the music in worship, the Reverend Trudi Shaw was Deacon of the Word and the Reverend Alisdair Smith was Bishop’s Chaplain. The Venerable Stephanie Shepard, Archdeacon of Granville led the chanting of the litany.
This was the first liturgy following Dr. Bonnie Henry’s November 30 Provincial Health Order regarding worship services and increased precautions and protocols, so masks were mandatory and only removed to speak or sing solo. There were approximately 60 present in the congregation and about 40 vested clergy.
Please keep the newly ordained, and the newly installed and collated clergy in your prayers as they enter this new phase of ministry.
IMAGES
- The newly ordained deacons prepare the altar during the Offertory Hymn, “The Church of Christ in Every Age.”
- The Ordination Retreat location at Williamson’s Landing Photo Karin Fulcher
- The ordinands Martha Cameron and Neil Seedhouse with the Reverend Brian Heinrich Photo Karin Fulcher
- The ordinands and sponsors are in place in the nave during the procession in to “Veni Sancte Spiritus”
- The procession in is completed and all are in place as the bishop removes his mask and gathers the community with prayer
- Kathy Shier of Christ Church Cathedral reads the OT, Job 1: 1-5
- Sean Lynn of St. Mary Magdalene leads Psalm 119: 161-168
- Deacon, the Reverend Trudi Shaw proclaims the Gospel, Luke 10: 38-41
- Preacher and Chaplain to the Ordinands, Deacon, the Reverend Karin Fulcher.
- Candidates for ordination participate in the Bishop's Examination
- The Venerable Stephanie Shepard leads the Litany
- Martha is ordained
- Neil is ordained
- The Reverend Martha Cameron’s sponsors Emilie and Roland have assisted her in vesting according to the order of deacons
- The newly ordained deacons are welcomed with applause
- Bishop John Stephens censes the altar prior to the Eucharistic Prayer
- The Reverend Cameron hands the bread, the Body of Christ to Minister of Communion, the Venerable Kelly Duncan
- Following being collated by the bishop, the Venerable Kelly Duncan is installed Archdeacon of Lougheed
- The Reverends Stephen Rowe and Laurel Dahill are installed as Regional Deans
- Bishop John with the diocese’s two newest deacons
Photos: Randy Murray except where noted.