WHILE football fans watched England defeated by Portugal in the World Cup quarter-final yesterday afternoon, more than one thousand people flocked to Ely Cathedral to witness the ordination of 19 clergy. The seven newly-ordained priests and 12 deacons

WHILE football fans watched England defeated by Portugal in the World Cup quarter-final yesterday afternoon, more than one thousand people flocked to Ely Cathedral to witness the ordination of 19 clergy.

The seven newly-ordained priests and 12 deacons will boost clergy numbers across Cambridgeshire and west Norfolk.

Among this year's new clergy are a former chartered accountant, a computer software developer and a youth and community worker.

Jon Randall, who worked in Frankfurt, Germany for four years restructuring large companies in financial difficulty, will serve as a deacon in the parishes of Hemingford Abbots, St Margaret of Antioch and Hemingford Grey, St James.

Laurence Wickens will continue to work as a computer software developer and serve as a deacon in the parish of Cambridge, St Barnabas, in a voluntary capacity.

Selina Garner, who has been a youth and community worker and lecturer in youth ministry at Ridley Hall theological college, will move to Little Wilbraham where she will serve as a deacon in the parish of Fulbourn, St Vigor, Great Wilbraham, St Nicholas, Little Wilbraham, St John with Six Mile Bottom, St George.

Others ordained as deacons by the Bishop of Huntingdon, the Rt Revd Dr John Inge, are Barbara Burton to serve in the parish of March, St John; Sheila Cameron to serve in the parish of Cherry Hinton, St Andrew; Brian Elfick to serve in the parish of Cambridge, St Andrew the Great Holy Sepulchre; Paul Gildersleve and Nigel Pearson to serve in The Papworth Team; Jane Martin to serve in The Huntingdon Team; Julie Norris to serve in the Orwell Group of Parishes; Alistair Seabrook to serve in the parish of Alwalton, St Andrew, Chesterton, St Michael, Elton, All Saints, with Stibbington, St John; and Matt Watts to serve in the parish of Comberton, St Mary and Toft, St Andrew with Caldecote St Michael and All Angels and Childerley.

Those ordained priest by the Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell, are Alexandra Clarke who serves in The Papworth Team Ministry; Lucy Eleanor Cleland who serves in Yaxley, St Peter and Holme, St Giles with Conington; Sonia Falaschi-Ray who serves in Fowlmere, St Mary, Foxton, St Lawrence, Shepreth, All Saints and Thriplow, St George; Edward Green who serves in Soham, St Andrew and Wicken, St Laurence; Mary Price who serves in Melbourn, All Saints with Meldreth, Holy Trinity

and Gillian Smith serving in Burwell, St Mary with Reach, St Etheldreda and Holy Trinity.

Pictured are: (left to right centre row) Director of Ministry, Canon Vanessa Herrick; the Ven John Beer, Archdeacon of Ely; the Rt Revd Dr John Inge, Bishop of Huntingdon; the Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell, Bishop of Ely; the Ven Hugh McCurdy, Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech; and the Revd John Lee, clergy appointments advisor.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE