Few can imagine the pain and trauma which must be experienced by an expectant mother who terminates her pregnancy by means of abortion. Nevertheless, our concern and compassion for women who have or who might experience this trauma cannot allow us to set aside our very grave concern about the recent amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, passed in the House of Commons, which effectively decriminalises abortion even at full term.

Far from protecting pregnant women, this change to the law would, if enacted, make women in the later stages of pregnancy more vulnerable to ending their pregnancies prematurely and dangerously, once legal safeguards have been removed. Our concern here is not only for these unborn children, but for women experiencing coercion, abuse, or whose mental health is compromised because of the circumstances in which they find themselves.

Coupled with the draft proposals on assisted dying which will shortly return to the House of Commons for further consideration, we register our profound disquiet at the manner in which respect for the God-given dignity of every human life is being eroded because of the decisions of a majority of our elected representatives. We pray that legislators will continue to uphold the presumption of the sanctity of life and the protection of the vulnerable: values shared not only by all mainstream Christian traditions, but also by all historic world faiths.

As catholic Christians beginning our celebrations of the Feast of Corpus Christi today, we give thanks for our calling to be the Body of Christ in the world and to witness to the dignity of every human life, made in the image and likeness of Almighty God whose divine Son shared our humanity from his conception in the womb of blessed Mary and who gives Himself to us now in the form of Bread and Wine. 

The Right Reverend Jonathan Baker

Chairman of The Society’s Council of Bishops

The Right Reverend Paul Thomas

Chairman of Forward in Faith

Your prayers are asked for all candidates as they prepare for ordination in the coming months. In the context of The Society, your prayers are specifically asked for the candidates listed immediately below. A selection of prayers is available here.

In terms of the composition of the list, either the candidate is registered with The Society, or the parish / parishes in which the candidate serves / will serve is / are registered with The Society, or the ordaining bishop is a bishop of The Society and is acting in that capacity.  

Any additions or corrections to this list of Society-related ordinations for 2025 are to be sent by email to director@forwardinfaith.com as soon as possible, please – thank you.

Ordinations to the Diaconate

Edward Parker-Sunderland at 11am on Saturday 28^th June in Wakefield Cathedral by the Bishop of Leeds

Nathan Barrett at 11am on Saturday 28^th June in St Andrew’s, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Oliver Baldwin at 11am on Saturday 28^th June in St Andrew’s, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Georges Iskander at 11am on Saturday 28^th June in St Andrew’s, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

John Laverick at 11am on Saturday 28^th June in St Andrew’s, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Samuel Williams at 11am on Saturday 28^th June in St Andrew’s, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Antonio Joseph at 11am on Saturday 28^th June in Southwark Cathedral by the Bishop of Southwark

Alex Walker at 2pm on Sunday 29^th June in Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley 

Ben Almond at 10.30am on Sunday 29^th June in Norwich Cathedral by the Bishop of Norwich

Kevin Coaker at 10:30am on Sunday 29^th June in Wells Cathedral by the Bishop of Bath and Wells

Michal Kmet at 7pm on Monday 30^th June in Leicester Cathedral by the Bishop of Richborough

Ewan Gillings at 3.30pm on Saturday 5^th July in Hereford Cathedral by the Bishop of Hereford

Ordinations to the Sacred Priesthood

Tim Newton at 3pm on Saturday 14^th June in St Nicholas, Arundel by the Bishop of Lewes 

Alex Honey at 6.30pm on Monday 16^th June in St Michael, Heavitree by the Bishop of Oswestry 

Mark Naylor at 3pm on Saturday 21^st June in Wakefield Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley 

Simon Fern at 3pm on Saturday 21^st June in Wakefield Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Ben Jennings at 2pm on Sunday 29^th June in Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley 

Calum Mullet at 4pm on Sunday 29^th June at Holy Trinity Church, Tarleton by the Bishop of Blackburn

Joseph Kochanski at 4pm on Sunday 29^th June at Holy Trinity Church, Tarleton by the Bishop of Blackburn

William Allen at 5pm on Sunday 29^th June in St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham  

Simon Billington at 5pm on Sunday 29^th June in St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham 

James Bartle at 7pm on Tuesday 1^st July in Newcastle Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Graham Hains at 11am on Saturday 19^th July in St Michael, Croydon by the Bishop of Fulham

Charles Cowper at [TBC] on Saturday 13^th September in St Luke, Holbrooks by the Bishop of Oswestry 

Jeff Graham at 2pm on Saturday 27^th September in St James, Colchester by the Bishop of Richborough