• 05 September 2021

Revd Anna Williams is ordained presbyter

Congratulations to Revd Anna Williams who has been ordained presbyter for the curacy of Seapatrick, Banbridge.

Bishop David ordained Anna along with Rodney Blair and Andy Hay at a service in Down Cathedral on Sunday 5 September. The preacher was our Bible Week speaker, Revd Mark Aldridge. Mark is Assistant National Leader for New Wine England. 

Anna reflects on her deacon year

Between September 2020 and June 2021, I had the great joy of joining in with the mission and ministry of St Mary’s, Ballybeen.

A deacon intern year is one of many parts – between dissertation writing, CITI study weeks, and time serving in the parish – and this particular deacon placement had the additions of a parish building project and the comings and goings of lockdown restrictions! All of this combined to give me a sense of the complexities of parish ministry, as well as an excitement for what the Church can do and be in this time as we proclaim a beautiful Gospel and make known a wonderful Saviour.

Over the course of the past year, we returned frequently to a phrase from Esther 4 – “for such a time as this” – and I am so grateful to have spent this time in St Mary’s and so thankful for all I have learned along the way. I give thanks to God for the love, faithfulness, and sense of humour of the people of St Mary’s; and for the prayerfulness, patience, and godly integrity Jim models as Rector. For these reasons, I continue to give thanks and pray for the St Mary’s church family.

I am excited to continue following in the way God sets before me, as I move to serve my curacy in Seapatrick Parish, Banbridge. I look forward to serving alongside the people there, and to all that God has in store for us!

‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.’ (Ephesians 3:20–21)