The Ordination of Georgina Laura Morley
to the Order of Deacon

Sunday January 26th was one of those lovely sunlit fresh Northern winter days which just make you want to exclaim "This is the day that the Lord has made", and absolutely appropriate for George's Ordination as Deacon to serve in the United benefice of Osmotherley with Harlsey and Ingleby Arncliffe. Appropriate, for who can forget the freshness and vitality of her preaching in St Peter's after her licensing as Reader, and appropriate because these three parishes, in the diocese of York, and lying very close to George and Leslie's home in Brompton, have an ecumenical dimension, as does the North Eastern Ordination Course (NEOC) of which George is Director of Studies.

The service, a Eucharist, was held in St Peter's Osmotherley, and the Most Reverend David Hope, Archbishop of York, was both Ordaining Bishop and President at the Eucharist.

An excellent sermon was given by the Revd Dr Alan Bartlett from Cranmer Hall, Durham, George's tutor in Church History. For the record, the readings were Isaiah 6:1- 8; Philippians 2:5-11; and Mark 10:35-45, and the hymns sung were “All Creatures of our God and King” (we were, after all, in James Herriot country); “Praise to the Holiest in the Height”; “Angel-voices ever singing”; and “Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire”, which of course ends with the line Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This thought of Trinity was most apt, for a trio of trios present during the service had encouraged one's thoughts along such lines.

Firstly, together again were the three one-time Nottingham University chaplains - Leslie, Stuart Burgess (then non-conformist chaplain) and Bernard Brady (then Roman Catholic Chaplain). The second trio was, of course, Leslie, Eileen and I, the 'old' St Peter's team (some older than others!). And finally, flitting about from one spot to another throughout the service were a BBC cameraman, a soundman and their producer. The third trio! It appears that there is upcoming on BBC 4 (a digital station), three programmes looking at senior church figures. The first programme is believed to be on March 24th (about the Archbishop of Canterbury), the second a week later (subject unknown) and the third on April 7th features Archbishop David, so hopefully those of you who have never seen George in a dress might be able to put that omission to rights by watching on April 7th.

George felt blessed by Archbishop David personally attending to conduct the Ordination, but perhaps even more blessed by the fact that the service was held where she is to exercise her ministry. George will operate as a sort of Minister in Secular Employment, where her duties on NEOC are her main employment, and her parochial duties will be largely confined to Sundays.

Jan & I, and Eileen & Jim, found it a joy to see George ordained, and to see the support she had from so many: colleagues from NEOC, from her future parishioners, and from friends, including Bishop Patrick and Valerie who it was so good to see, as well as from those mentioned above.

Wally Huckle


http://www.stpetersnottingham.org/news/morley-ord.html
© St Peter's Church, Nottingham
Last revised 11th February 2003