Saint Edmund, Downham Market, Norfolk

 Faith - Ordination (Holy Order)

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A New Priest for the Church of God

On Sunday 29th June 2008, the Feast of the Apostles SS Peter and Paul, over 220 people were present in St Edmund's for the Ordination to the sacred priesthood of our Assistant Curate, Father Charles Miller, by the Right Reverend Keith Newton ssc, Bishop of Richborough and Provincial Episcopal Visitor, who was joined by 23 brother priests, who shared in the laying-on of hands during the Ordination and in concelebrating the Eucharist.



The Ordination of a new Priest is a moving and significant event – not only for the local and wider Church and the candidate, but also for the wider communities in whose pastoral care the new Priest has the privilege of sharing.

This Ordination was also of historical importance, because in the centuries-long history of St Edmund’s, as far as we can reasonably know, this was almost certainly the first Ordination to take place in this church.

The next evening, Monday 30th June, was equally joyful, with a congregation of over 100 and 16 concelebrating priests for Fr Charles’ First Mass.

As well as locally from our own three parishes, people and clergy came from far and wide for these occasions – from as far as Liverpool in the north to Salisbury in the south. And what joyful, memorable, profound and moving celebrations they were.  It was a privilege to be part of them.  None of us will ever forget them.  They were a real blessing.