Feast of St Andrew, 2023

After nine years as the Chairman of The Society’s Council of Bishops [Note 1] and as the Chairman of Forward in Faith [Note 2], the Right Reverend Tony Robinson, the Bishop of Wakefield, has chosen to step down from both roles.

The bishops of The Society have chosen the Right Reverend Jonathan Baker, the Bishop of Fulham, to succeed Bishop Tony as the Chairman of The Society’s Council of Bishops.

The trustees of Forward in Faith have chosen the Right Reverend Paul Thomas, the Bishop of Oswestry, to succeed Bishop Tony as the Chairman of Forward in Faith.

Bishop Jonathan commented:

“Our entire movement owes a huge debt of gratitude to Bishop Tony for his many years of selfless devotion to the flourishing of catholic life in the Church of England, all conducted with a profound sense of pastoral care to clergy and people alike, and with pragmatism and good humour.

 

In terms of The Society, I would particularly highlight Bishop Tony’s achievements in developing and consolidating The Society as an ecclesial body and in being an architect of the move from often internally focused discussions to a more externally driven approach, emphasising the importance of mission.

 

I shall look to continue Bishop Tony’s excellent work on behalf of The Society and in particular will seek to complete the implementation of his twofold vision for The Society. Firstly, we should seek to harness the charisms of the entire catholic movement so that The Society can act as the focal point and as the banner for the witness of all of our parishes in the Church of England. Secondly, we should ensure that our catholic societies work harmoniously with one another in support of our goal of building up our shared catholic life.”

Bishop Paul commented:

“I echo Bishop Jonathan’s words and would like to register my own deep thanks to Bishop Tony for his immense efforts on behalf of us all. We would not be in the strong position we are today without Bishop Tony’s dedication and hard work.

 

In terms of Forward in Faith, Bishop Tony showed admirable leadership in getting us through the crisis caused by the Covid pandemic, and more recently he has acted as a keen supporter of the redesign and relaunch of our New Directions publication.

 

I look forward to working closely with Bishop Jonathan to ensure that Forward in Faith works with the other catholic societies for the renewal of the catholic movement in the Church of England. Forward in Faith will continue its campaigning work on behalf of the movement so as to promote the historic faith, particularly by creating new disciples for Our Lord Jesus Christ and by upholding and advancing the universal Church’s teaching on all seven sacraments.”

Prayer for The Society

Heavenly Father,

Bless the bishops, clergy and people of The Society.

Bind us together in love and faith.

Renew us in service and witness.

And by your Holy Spirit

Guide our future and make plain your purposes.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.

Saint Andrew, pray for us.

Saint Wilfrid, pray for us.

Saint Hilda, pray for us. 

Note 1

The Society is an ecclesial body, led by a Council of Bishops. The purposes of The Society are to:

• Promote and maintain catholic teaching and practice within the Church of England.

• Provide episcopal oversight to which churches, institutions and individuals will freely submit themselves.

• Guarantee a ministry in the historic apostolic succession in which they can have confidence.

Note 2

Forward in Faith is a registered charity which:

• Is committed to the catholic faith as the Church of England received it, and to proclaiming it afresh in this generation.

• Upholds catholic order and the catholic doctrine of the Sacraments, and in particular the threefold ministry in historic succession, which the Church of England shares with the Church throughout the world and across the ages.

• Longs for the visible unity of Christ’s Church, and especially for communion between the Church of England and the rest of the Western Church.

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 –  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. A selection of prayers is available here. Any additions or corrections to this list of Society-related ordinations for 2023 are to be sent by email to director@forwardinfaith.com as soon as possible, please – thank you.

Ordinations to the Diaconate

Joshua Pollard at 11am on Saturday 24 June at Southwark Cathedral by the Bishop of Southwark

Richard Keeble at 3pm on Sunday 25 June at Chichester Cathedral by the Bishop of Chichester

Ben Scott at 3pm on Sunday 25 June at Chichester Cathedral by the Bishop of Chichester

Rachel Fielding* at 10.30am on Saturday 1 July at Blackburn Cathedral by the Bishop of Blackburn

Jean Kouacou at 10.30am on Saturday 1 July at Blackburn Cathedral by the Bishop of Blackburn

Duncan Hegan at 11am on Saturday 1 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Roger Turner at 11am on Saturday 1 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Joseph Harrison at 11am on Saturday 1 July at Bradford Cathedral by the Bishop of Leeds

Kenny Wickens at 3pm on Saturday 1 July at Exeter Cathedral by the Bishop of Exeter

Gareth Gladman at 10am on Sunday 2 July at Durham Cathedral by the Bishop of Durham

Raymond Parkin at 5.30pm on Sunday 2 July at Sheffield Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Timothy Davies at 7.30pm on Monday 3 July at Bristol Cathedral by the Bishop of Oswestry

Ordinations to the Sacred Priesthood

Fr Thomas Cotterill at 5pm on Sunday 4 June at St Paul, Brighton by the Bishop of Lewes

Fr Jonathan Roberts at 7pm on Thursday 15 June at St Michael, Coppenhall by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Daniel Heaton at 4pm on Saturday 24 June at St Peter, Horbury by the Bishop of Wakefield

Fr Philip Garrett at 4pm on Sunday 25 June at St Michael & All Angels, Cross Heath by the Bishop of Oswestry

Fr Sebastian Way at 6pm on Wednesday 28 June at St Giles, Reading by the Bishop of Oswestry

Fr Warren Mitchell at 5pm on Saturday 1 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Lewis Oliver-Hemmings-Faye at 5pm on Saturday 1 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Al Thompson at 5pm on Saturday 1 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Andrew Bailey at 5pm on Sunday 2 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Fr John Hillman at 5pm on Sunday 2 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Fr Stephen Miller at 5pm on Sunday 2 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Fr Jordan Bentliff at 5.30pm on Sunday 2 July at St George, Chorley by the Bishop of Blackburn

Fr Ryan Otley at 5.30pm on Sunday 2 July at St George, Chorley by the Bishop of Blackburn

Fr Michael Dixon at 5.30pm on Sunday 2 July at Sheffield Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Daniel Vickerstaff at 6.00pm on Tuesday 4 July at St John the Baptist, Leamington Spa by the Bishop of Oswestry

Ordinations to the Episcopate

Fr Paul Thomas at 10.30am on Thursday 2 February at Canterbuy Cathedral by the Bishop of Chichester

* = Distinctive Deacon

After consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Fr Paul Thomas SSC has been appointed as the first Bishop of Oswestry. The Society's Council of Bishops is delighted to hear this news and warmly congratulates Fr Paul. 

Fr Paul, once consecrated, will provide sacramental and pastoral oversight to Society parishes in the western half of the southern province of the Church of England; in an area which is now known as the See of Oswestry and which was formerly known as the See of Ebbsfleet.

Fr Paul’s service to the Church has been rooted in parochial ministry in and around the capital and he has been the parish priest of his current church - St James, Sussex Gardens in Paddington, London which is a parish under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Fulham - for the last 11 years. 

Fr Paul became well known during lockdown for his innovative use of social media, providing content which was both entertaining and evangelistic. He also spent a couple of years as the acting Archdeacon of Charing Cross in recent years which will provide him with invaluable experience for his new role.

Bishop Tony Robinson commented:

“Fr Paul has served the Church faithfully and with imagination and good humour over the last 20 years. He is a talented communicator and he has much to offer the parishes of the See of Oswestry. We very much look forward to his episcopacy starting in early 2023.”

Fr Paul’s consecration will be on the Feast of Candlemas in Canterbury Cathedral - Thursday 2 February 2023. A time for the consecration service has yet to be announced. A novena of prayer is available below for all those who want to link themselves through prayer to the consecration and to Fr Paul’s episcopal ministry within the Church. The novena will run from Wednesday 25 January - the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle - to Thursday 2 February - the Feast of Candlemas.

We offer The Society prayer for the parishes, clergy and people of the See of Oswestry:

Heavenly Father,

bless the bishops, clergy and people of The Society.

Bind us together in love and faith.

Renew us in service and witness.

And by your Holy Spirit

Guide our future and make plain your purposes.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Wilfrid, pray for us.

Saint Hilda, pray for us.

Video

Novena

Photo Credit: Duncan Lomax

Your prayers are asked for the following candidates as they prepare for ordination; either the candidates are registered with The Society or the parishes in which they (will) serve are.

Ordinations to the Diaconate

Philip Garrett at 6pm on Saturday 25 June at Lichfield Cathedral by the Bishop of Lichfield

Michael Dixon at 6.30pm on Sunday 26 June at Sheffield Cathedral by the Bishop of Wakefield

Sebastian Way at 10am on Saturday 2 July at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford by the Bishop of Oxford

Tristan Meares at 10.30am on Saturday 2 July at Blackburn Cathedral by the Bishop of Blackburn

Ryan Otley at 10.30am on Saturday 2 July at Blackburn Cathedral by the Bishop of Blackburn

Andrew Bailey at 11am on Saturday 2 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

John Hillman at 11am on Saturday 2 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Stephen Miller at 11am on Saturday 2 July at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Daniel Heaton at 3pm on Saturday 2 July at Wakefield Cathedral by the Bishop of Leeds

Jonathan Roberts at 10.30am on Sunday 3 July at Chester Cathedral by the Bishop of Chester

Al Thompson at 2.30pm on Sunday 3 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Burnley

Warren Mitchell at 2.30pm on Sunday 3 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Burnley

Lewis Oliver Hemmings-Faye at 2.30pm on Sunday 3 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Burnley

Thomas Cotterill at 6.30pm on Monday 4 July at St Paul, Brighton by the Bishop of Chichester

Daniel Vickerstaff at 7pm on Tuesday 5 July at St John the Baptist, Leamington Spa by the Bishop of Wakefield

Ordinations to the Sacred Priesthood

Fr James Walton at 3pm on Sunday 19 June at All Saints, Castlefields by the Bishop of Wakefield

Fr Neil Brunskill at 6.30pm on Sunday 19 June at St Luke, Southport by the Bishop of Burnley

Fr James Chegwidden at 5pm on Saturday 25 June at St Andrew, Holborn by the Bishop of Fulham

Fr Jonathan Fleury at 3pm on Sunday 26 June at St Luke, Grimethorpe by the Bishop of Wakefield

Fr Tony Lawrence at 4pm on Saturday 2 July at Portsmouth Cathedral by the Bishop of Portsmouth

Fr Sion Hughes Carew at 10am on Sunday 3 July at St Bede, Newsham by the Bishop of Wakefield

Fr Edward Gunn at 4pm on Sunday 3 July at St Helen, Auckland by the Bishop of Wakefield

Fr Matteo Zambon at 6.30pm on Sunday 3 July at St Mary Magdalen, Accrington by the Bishop of Burnley

Fr Jordan McDermott at 6.30pm on Sunday 3 July at St Mary Magdalen, Accrington by the Bishop of Burnley

Fr David Talbot at 7.30pm on Monday 4 July at St Katharine, Southbourne by the Bishop of Richborough

Fr Luke Demetri at 3pm on Saturday 9 July at St Michael, Croydon by the Bishop of Fulham

Fr Peter Jackson at 12 noon on Saturday 24 September at St John the Apostle, Torquay by the Bishop of Lewes

Fr Gary Gould at 6pm on Saturday 26 November at St Andrew the Apostle, Holt by the Bishop of Richborough

Ordinations to the Episcopate

Fr Stephen Race at 11am on Wednesday 30 November at York Minster by the Bishop of Wakefield

A selection of prayers for those to be ordained, for an increase in vocations and for our Deacons, Priests and Bishops are available here.

Any additions or corrections to director@forwardinfaith.com as soon as possible please, thank you.

We urge supporters of The Society, and those sympathetic to its aims, to attend Fr Stephen Race SSC’s consecration as Bishop of Beverley on the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, at 11am on Wednesday 30 November, in York Minster, wherever that is feasible. It would be great to see the Minster full for this special occasion.

We ask, whether you can attend the consecration or not, to join with us in a novena of prayer to mark this important moment in the life of The Society. The novena (available here) runs from Tuesday 22 to Wednesday 30 November and links us through prayer to the consecration and to Fr Stephen’s episcopal ministry within the Church.

Footnotes

1. For those intending to sit in the congregation, no prior booking is required.

2. For clergy (alb / white stole) and lay readers (surplice / scarf / hood) wishing to robe, please register here and assemble in the Minster’s Lady Chapel by 10.40am.

3. The three consecrating bishops will be Society bishops from the Northern Province:

   The Principal Consecrator will be +Tony Robinson (Bishop of Wakefield).

   The Co-Consecrators will be +Philip North (Bishop of Burnley) and

   +Glyn Webster (Fr Stephen’s immediate predecessor as Bishop of Beverley).