Ordination of six new Priests
Six new Priests were ordained in Connor Diocese at a Service in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Wednesday September 12 2012.
Ordination of priests. From left: Bishop Alan, Dean John Mann, Emma Rutherford, Iain Jamieson, Mellisa Jeffers, Matthew Milliken, Jacob Caldwell, Jonny Campbell-Smyth and Archbishop Michael Jackson.
They were ordained by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abenethy. Preacher at the service was the Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough.
Jonathan Campbell-Smyth was ordained to serve the Curacy of Coleraine. Jonny, 41, is married to Alison and the couple have two sons, A member of St Patrick's, Coleraine, Jonny has been involved in short term mission and ministry both at home and abroad, particularly in Thailand, and worked for many years in IT.
lain Jamieson was ordained to serve the Curacy of Ballymena (Kilconriola) and Ballyclug. lain was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in Shropshire. He studied philosophy and later criminology, and moved to Northern Ireland in his thirties. He volunteers in prison ministry and has been a chaplaincy volunteer at Portlaoise in the South of Ireland.
Mellissa Jeffers was ordained to serve in the non-stipendiary ministry in the curacy of the grouped parishes of Finaghy and Upper Malone. A graduate of Stanmillis College, Belfast, Mellissa spent two years on Voluntary Service Overseas at a school in Nigeria, before gaining a Masters Degree in Library Studies. She is a former Principal Officer with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
Matthew Milliken was ordained to serve the curacy of Christ Church, Lisburn. Matthew, from Comber, studied Geography with Sport Science at Liverpool Hope University and later obtained a Masters in Theology at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. He spent three years at St Jude's Church, Ormeau Road, where he married his wife Lisa. Matthew was ordained Deacon in Shankill Parish, Lurgan where he served as deacon-intern.
Jacob Caldwell was ordained to serve the curacy of Larne & Inver with Glynn & Raloo. Known informally as Jim, he grew up on the family farm in Moorfields, Ballymena. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the University of St Andrews. Prior to ordination training he worked for Michelin Tyre Pic. He studied Mission and Evangelism at Trinity College in Bristol, and in 2011 he was ordained to the Diaconate in St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh to serve an Internship in the Parish of St Swithin, Magherafelt.
Emma Rutherford was ordained to serve in the curacy of Coleraine. Emma, from Donaghadee, is married to Graham, and they have a 12-year-old son. Emma, whose background is in textiles and interior design, was family and children's worker in Knocknagoney Parish, Belfast, for almost four years before training for ordination in Dublin. She served her internship as a deacon in St Jude's Parish, Ballynafeigh.
