Ordination Photos 2025
Please see below the photos from the 2025 Petertide ordination services. Click the links to view - you can download individual images or the full album: Ordination of Priests 2025 - 28th June Ordination of Deacons 2025 - 29th June
Ordination Candidates 2025
Please join us in praying for the candidates who will be ordained as Deacons and Priests on the 28th and 29th June. You can watch the Ordination of Priests service here, and the Ordination of Deacons service here. PRIEST CANDIDATES GRAHAM BAKER grew up in southeast London and was aware of wanting to follow Jesus from an early age. He spent time in academic research, with a DPhil in History, and then teaching before recognising a call to ministry within the church.
Bishop Paul’s Sermon for the Service of Celebration of the King’s Official Birthday
Sunday 15th June, Southwell Minster My text for this sermon is 1 Peter 2:16: “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil…Show proper respect to everyone…” There’s a little volume called ‘The All Better Book’ in which children try to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, like what to do about global warming, how to stop wars and so on. And here’s one of the toughest questions they faced: ‘With billions of people in the world, someone
Three Named in King’s Birthday Honours List
We’re delighted to share that three people from churches and schools in the diocese have been named in the King’s Birthday Honours. Rita McCall, Deputy Verger at St Mary Magdalene Newark, has been awarded British Empire Medal (BEM). Alongside her role as Deputy Verger at St Mary’s, Rita has been the organiser of the church’s popular Christmas Tree Festival for the past 17 years, and it’s this that has been recognised through this award. Rita shared: “It is indeed a great honour
You’re invited: Diocesan Safeguarding Conference 2025
This year's Diocesan Safeguarding Conference is coming up on Saturday 5th July at The Minster School in Southwell, and this year for the first time, the conference is open to everyone serving in parish roles, paid or volunteer, as well as all clergy. Safeguarding is an important part of our shared life and ministry. Building upon last year’s conference focus on the National Safeguarding Standards and as we look ahead to next year’s INEQE Safeguarding Audit, the conference is a great
35 Candidates Confirmed at Pentecost Eve Service
It was a Spirit-filled occasion on Saturday evening as 35 candidates from across the diocese were confirmed at Southwell Minster at the Pentecost Eve service. Bishop Paul led the service and spoke of knowing God as our Father and the particular power and gift of the Holy Spirit, drawing on Romans 8:14-18 and John 7:37-39. The service provided an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful stories of God at work in peoples’ lives, with candidates representing 12 different parishes. Read a selection
Start the Month in June with Bishop Paul and Sarah (181) – 6th June 2025
'Proverbs invites us to think and reflect on the wisdom it holds, as if we’re searching for treasure.' There are often times in our lives where we particularly need to seek God’s wisdom and guidance. In Start the Month for June, Bishop Paul and Sarah provide encouraging reflections from the book of Proverbs. They share how the passage invites us to dig deep, and reflect carefully on God’s word. ‘For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding’
Searching for More – Joyce’s Living Hope Story
‘There’s got to be more to life than this.’ We loved sitting down with Joyce to hear her story of faith. Joyce had a great life, but one day started to question if there was more. After an invite to church, she gradually became part of the community, but the moment Joyce asked Jesus into her life she couldn’t keep it to herself. Now years later, she is joining in with what God is doing in Wilford and loves to invest
Diocesan Synod Summary – 10 May 2025
Diocesan Synod 10 May 2025 On Saturday 10th May the Diocesan Synod met at The Minster School, Southwell with the Archdeacon of Newark, The Venerable Tors Ramsey, leading opening worship. Annual General Meeting Synod voted unanimously to receive the Annual Report and Financial Statements, as recommended by Bishop’s Council following their meeting on 29 April 2025. Canon Michael Arlington, Chair of Finance, provided an overview of financial performance and position. It was highlighted that Parish Share had increased significantly thanks to the hard work
Bishop’s Address to Diocesan Synod – Isaiah 35
This is the transcript of Bishop Paul's address to Diocesan Synod on 10th May 2025. I want to speak this morning about spiritual revival. I want to do that because one of our tasks as a Synod, in our stewardship of the work of God in this diocese, is to pay attention to the time and season we are in. Augustine famously said, ‘Lord, you made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.’ Over the past