Today the church remembers with thanksgiving Deacon Nicholas Ferrar. Nicholas Ferrar, born in 1592, was the founder of a religious community that lasted from 1626 to 1646. After Nicholas had been ordained as a deacon, he and his family and a few friends retired to Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire, England, to devote themselves to a life … Continue reading DEACON NICHOLAS FERRAR
Author: GillK
Gill has been a missioner in Nigeria, Romania and various parishes in England. She was ordained a 'distinctive' deacon in 1991. In this capacity she was warden of the College of St Philip the Deacon in Exeter diocese, and founder member of the CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons https://cofedeacons.org. She has also written the story of her own call, Deacon by Design. https://www.waterstones.com/book/deacon-by-design/gill-kimber/9781910719794
She's passionate about the diaconate and, now retired, continues to support those who are called to this ministry.
Recently, the Archbishop of York, an enthusiastic advocate, support and friend of the diaconate, published his Presidential Address to his Diocesan Synod (5 November 2016) advocating a fresh approach to ministry. He asked for copies to be distributed to everyone in church communities across the Diocese of York. This is now available in booklet form: … Continue reading ARCHBISHOP JOHN ON DEACONS
Interview: Didier Rance, historian by Terence Handley MacMath 24 November 2017 ‘Being a Christian is not to have won an undeserved jackpot, but to help all people win this jackpot’ I always wanted to be a historian. I studied medieval history at the Sorbonne, and left for Egypt to work on a doctorate in comparative … Continue reading SHARING THE GRACE: Deacon Didier Rance
Deacon Andy Farmer talks to Claire Whitmore (Ministry Division of the Church of England) about the way God called him to be a deacon. Part of his story is due to appear soon on the new CofE website about vocations. Deacon Andy Farmer Diocese of Exeter Qu: Tell me a bit about your own faith … Continue reading THE ROOFLESS CHURCH
Inspirational for those of us who are deacon-servants of Christ. https://youtu.be/M51ImXvOG0c This sanctuary of my soul Unwitting I keep white and whole, Unlatch'd and lit, if Thou should'st care To enter or to tarry there. With parted lips and outstretch'd hands and list'ning ears Thy servant stands. Call Thou early, call Thou late, to Thy … Continue reading THIS SANCTUARY OF MY SOUL
Recently, Deacon Corinne Smith was invited to give a paper at the Annual Conference of Roman Catholic Diaconate Directors and Deacon Representatives, run by the Department of Catholic Education and Formation, under the authority of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Her brief was to talk about Anglican Deacons from a woman's perspective - … Continue reading KAIROS MOMENT FOR THE DIACONATE
A brilliant post from Terry, a diaconal enquirer in Derby diocese. It speaks for itself. Time to duck and cover? November 10, 2017 aneverydaydeacon Sorry I have been so quiet.. work is… complicated at the moment, and takes up more thought space than it should. My mind is also in a weird place, slowly formulating what … Continue reading ‘WE DON’T DO DEACONS’. Really?
The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class, FATHER FORGIVE The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own, FATHER FORGIVE The greed which exploits the work of human … Continue reading FATHER, FORGIVE: a litany for Remembrance
A poem for All Saints (click on the title if you would prefer to listen to the poet, Malcolm Guite, reading it) and an icon of the Coptic martyrs murdered by Isis, for All Souls. All Saints Though Satan breaks our dark glass into shards Each shard still shines with Christ’s reflected light, It glances … Continue reading ALL SAINTS and ALL SOULS
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 