Diocese of Chichester

This Autumn, the Diocese of Chichester is delighted to announce 16 people from parishes across the diocese, have started ordination training at theological colleges across the country.

The cohort of 16 will be training on one of three types of pathway through a theological college. They will deepen their knowledge of the Christian faith, develop habits of prayer and be equipped for public ministry.

Some ordinands will be following a residential pathway and living at college, others will be following a full-time non-residential pathway (sometimes referred to as context based) with classes and a placement and some will be following a part-time pathway.

However, this year sees changes to the way they would normally train due to Covid 19 restrictions. They will be experiencing a mixture of in-class (following Government guidelines) and online training.

The Revd Dr Keir Shreeves, Diocesan Director for Ordinands, has been responsible for getting them to this stage. He said: “Our team of ADDOs have done a tremendous job. We are delighted to have sent 16 new ordinands to theological colleges across the country this Autumn and they go with our blessing and our prayers.

“These students have been through a thorough discernment process of preparation and formation. Some will be seeking a stipendiary title post after training whilst others will be self-supporting.

“This is a hugely challenging time for ordinands and staff at theological colleges. The theological colleges have been working hard to maintain high quality educational and formational standards and our new ordinands have taken on the challenge of starting training during a pandemic with grace, wisdom and hope.”

Elly Mckay Smith is a member of East Hoathly parish near Uckfield, East Sussex. She is training part-time at St Mellitus and currently settling into the pace of online learning with the college. She said: “While not actually there in person my initial experience with St Mellitus has been amazing. We were welcomed via zoom and the joining of college emails and the dreaded Moodle was faultless. Information was clearly issued and fed to us at a gentle rate so as not to overwhelm us.

“Our formation group has had time to meet via zoom to introduce ourselves and we quickly formed a WhatsApp group to get to know each other as best we can. I still can’t believe I am an ordinand with my first assignment looming.”

Richard Lonsdale, a student with Ridley, has settled into Cambridge with his family, living in a small village just to the north of the city. He said: “College has just begun and so at present I am whizzing from Zoom meeting to Zoom meeting learning how it all works, where I need to be and who does what! Formal lectures and associated assignments begin next week.

“I am on the Context Based Pathway which allows for greater engagement and discussion in our tutor groups to discuss, critique and explore our different backgrounds, placements and approaches to church.”

Here is a list of all the students and the colleges where they will be training:

• Caroline Armitage at St Augustine’s
• Hollie Butler at St Mellitus
• Fiona Coldicott at St Augustine’s
• Tom Dare at St Mellitus
• Lloyd Etheridge at Oakhill
• Tracey Flitcroft at Portsmouth Pathway
• James Lashwood at St Mellitus
• Emily Lawrence at Mirfield
• Richard Lonsdale at Ridley
• Sally McCubbin at Ridley
• Elly McKay-Smith at St Mellitus
• Baxter McRolston at Westcott
• Maria Sadler at Portsmouth Pathway
• Holly Schofield at Trinity
• Carolyn Scott at St Augustine’s
• Elizabeth Yonge at Cuddenson