Bishop Sarah ordains four new priests

Bishop Sarah has ordained four new priests, and in doing so became the first woman bishop in the Church of England to lead an ordination service.

Bishop Sarah ordained Leisa McGovern and Sheila Walker, in Ottery St Mary, and Glyn Lewry and Jill Purser in Sampford Peverell.

The four clergy have spent a year in the parishes as deacons but now they are ordained priests by Bishop Sarah, they will be able to take weddings and lead Communion services.

Dame Sarah Mullally was consecrated as the new Bishop of Crediton by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Canterbury Cathedral in July. She was the fourth woman bishop to be appointed in the Church of England.

Bishop Sarah said: “It was a great privilege to join these curates at such a significant point in their journey of faith. Their ordination as priests occurs in the midst of the communities they serve and as I join them in their significant day, it is another step towards making women bishops a normal part of the Church of England.”

Revd Leisa McGovern said: “It is very exciting for Ottery St Mary to be hosting the ordination service and welcoming Bishop Sarah; Devon’s first woman bishop, who will be ordaining priests, across the Devon churches, during this ordination season.

“It is a great privilege to be among some of the first priests to be ordained by Bishop Sarah, as she begins her own ministry.”

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