Ordination of Hilary Walker as Deacon

 
From left to right: a fellow ordination candidate; Rev’d Dr Hilary Walker; the Bishop of Colchester, The Rt Rev’d Roger Morris; the Bishop of Chelmsford, The Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani; Archdeacon of Stansted, The Ven Robin King; a fellow ordination candidate.

Rev’d Dr Hilary Walker, who worships at St Mary’s Church, Saffron Walden, was ordained Deacon at Chelmsford Cathedral by the Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, on Sunday 10th September 2023, together with other candidates from the Chelmsford diocese.

Attendance was by invitation as space was limited, but the service can still be enjoyed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmJFvu1MXig

Hilary’s initial training was as a teacher and she taught predominantly upper primary pupils for over thirty years, before retraining as a counsellor specialising in teenagers.  She says that, in her spare time, she managed to fit in a few degrees in history culminating in a PhD on the life of 18th century artisans – the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker etc. – with a focus on Saffron Walden.

Before the service, Hilary said, “I view my upcoming ordination as a deacon with equal degrees of excitement and trepidation. It is the culmination of one stage of my journey towards priesthood and the beginning of a new one. I am very much looking forward to being part of the team in my benefice and to having the opportunity to serve the people of the area in whatever ways I can.”

Rev’d Jeremy Trew, added “Hilary has been an active member of the congregation of St Mary's for a number of years.  I'm excited that she is now being ordained.  I hope her story will be encouraging to others on their own spiritual journey.” 



Hilary Walker with supporters from Saffron Walden: from left to right: Gill Caswell, churchwarden; Rev’d Jeremy Trew, Rector and Area Dean; Jan Siewertsen, assistant churchwarden; Rev’d Dr Hilary Walker, deacon and Pam Russell, verger.