CONGRATULATIONS………….to Reverend James Parry, to be ordained priest at St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham on Saturday 5th July at 10.30am. Please remember James and Amy in your prayers and especially on Saturday morning.

What does it mean to be a priest in the Church of England?

All clergy are ordained deacon first and, usually after a year, have a second ordination to become a priest. This is a lifelong commitment, regardless of the role they may hold. Some priests take on the role of Vicar or Rector in a parish. Others may feel called to be chaplain, for example, in a hospital, prison, in the military services or in an educational setting.

In all cases, priests are called to guide and nurture the spiritual development of those in their care. They lead Sunday worship and are authorised to preside over Holy Communion as well as conduct occasional services such as baptisms, weddings and funerals. As a parish priest, they have “the cure of souls” of all in their parish – a curious phrase which is used by the Bishop when instituting a priest to a parish, simply meaning ‘care’ of all within their parish. The Bishop carries a crozier, or staff, signifying their role as ‘shepherd’ of the ‘flock’ within their diocese. The Bishop delegates the care of those in a parish to their parish priest.

Reverend James, like all ordained clergy, will have already had a long journey to get to the point of becoming a deacon. Now he is taking the big step to becoming a priest. At some point in the future, he will be entrusted with the “cure of souls” in a parish. In the meantime, we thank God for him and look forward to more of his ministry in our parish as an assistant priest.

We wish James everything he would wish for himself as he embarks on the next phase of his journey.