Ordination services livestreamed after delay caused by Covid-19

Among the new clergy to be ordained this week is Adele Bridle, who will be at Middleton and Thornham

Thirteen new curates were ordained deacon by the Bishops of Manchester, Middleton and Bolton on Wednesday 23 September.

Two services took place at each of Manchester Cathedral, Oldham Parish Church and Bolton Parish Church to ensure that small groups of candidates can be ordained safely and in accord with the government’s current social distancing guidelines.

The ordinations, originally scheduled to take place last June, were postponed because of Coronavirus. The 13 candidates are now preparing for the special services and, as newly ordained clergy, will then go on to serve in parishes around Greater Manchester.

Among the new clergy to be ordained this week was Adele Bridle, who will go on to serve at Middleton and Thornham parish.

She was ordained at Oldham Parish Church. A northern girl, she has been training full time in Bristol and says it feels good to be home in Manchester.

"I am looking forward to just getting stuck into full time practical ministry! This first year is going to look quite different to what a normal first year of curacy would look like, but I’m excited because there are so many opportunities to think outside the box in parish ministry, in this strange pandemic season. I pray that out of this difficult season, people in our community will come to know Jesus."