32 New Deacons, ten from Buckinghamshire, set to be ordained at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

A former airline pilot, foreign office diplomat, concert soloist and PPE manufacturer are among the 32 new deacons that will be ordained at three special services at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, on 3 July.  Ten of those being ordained will serve their curacies in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

Following the Government’s guidance and road map plans, the Directors of Ordinands and their teams have been busily preparing for this year’s ordinations to ensure that they can go ahead safely. The Bishop of Oxford, The Rt Revd. Dr Steven Croft, will ordain all 32 Deacons on the 3 July in three separate services, representing their respective archdeaconries (Buckinghamshire, Oxford and Dorchester and Berkshire). In line with current guidelines, each candidate will be able to invite eight guests including their Training Incumbent to their service. To allow the new deacons to share their special day, the diocese will be live streaming each of the services (links provideded at a later date) and images and video footage will be available following the services.

Speaking about the ordinations, Nicholas Cheeseman, Area Director of Ordinands (Berkshire & Oxford) said,

“It is always good to see and hear how God’s grace has been shown through those being ordained deacon. The Ordination Service says that ‘Deacons are ordained so that the people of God may be better equipped to make Christ known’. Although our ordination services are different this year, those we ordain as deacons will still be equipping the people of God in the parishes they serve and helping his people to be a Christlike Church for the sake of God’s world.”

Brief biographies of the deacons can be found below.

A chance meeting with Bishop Karowei, Bishop of Woolwich, set Ayo Audu off on his exploration of vocation. Having worked in digital marketing, a career break offered space for reflecting on and responding to “the gentle nudge that wouldn’t be ignored”. Cycling and reading provide him much valued distraction – but never together. He will undertake his curacy at St Frideswide in the Water Eaton Benefice.

Carole Gooding has always been involved in church. She is married to Revd Robert, with two adult children. After careers in radiography and early years, she has been called to ordination, hoping to eventually work alongside Robert. Carole is passionate about environmental care and arts and crafts. She will serve her curacy in the Benefice of Eton with Eton Wick and Boveney and Dorney.

Cathy Pearce lives in Buckingham with her husband Dave and they have four children. After helping with youth work in the North Buckingham Parish for many years Cathy felt called to share the hope of her Christian faith through ministry, with an emphasis on relationships with God and with each other. Cathy will undertake her curacy in North Buckingham Parish which consists of five village churches; Akeley, Leckhampstead, Lillingstone Dayrell, Lillingstone Lovell and Maids Moreton.

Jeremy Moodey has had a varied career as a Foreign Office diplomat, City investment banker and charity CEO. He also tried to become an MP and is a qualified football referee. He came to faith in his teens, which was in the 1970s! Jeremy is married to Ruth and has two adult daughters, Rebecca and Eleanor. He will serve his curacy in the Benefice of Great Chesham.

Mark Gould has worked for many years teaching physics in secondary schools around Maidenhead. He is a keen sailor and has shared his faith with young people over the years through sailing yachts with West Runton Holidays. He now hears the call to trust and step out onto the waters.

Rachel Ciampoli grew up in the US, and at 30 moved to London with her job. Though she enjoyed her management career, she had carried a sense of calling to ministry for decades. She found in Anglicanism the proper context to finally pursue this calling. She met Dwight whilst training and they married in 2020. Rachel will be doing her curacy at Saint Mary’s Bletchley, Milton Keynes.

Rainah Madzoera was born in Zimbabwe and serving God has been her passion since she was a teenager. She is married to Herbert and they are blessed with two daughters, Lesley and Lily. She relocated to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2002 and is currently a Chaplain in the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Previously, she was a registered mental health nurse. Rainah enjoys family time, travelling, reading, singing, and listening to Gospel music. She feels honoured and humbled to be serving her curacy at Aylesbury, St Mary’s and is looking forward to serving the Aylesbury community.

Before training for ordination, Ruth Harley worked in the diocese as a Children’s, Youth and Families’ Minister, and was Chair of Governors at a Church of England school. Ruth is the co-author of a recently published book: Being Interrupted: Re-Imagining The Church’s Mission From The Outside, In. She will undertake her curacy in the Watling Valley Ecumenical Partnership.

Sarah Smith is married with two children. An experience while on pilgrimage in Israel began her journey toward ordination. Like Jonah, she took the long route, but is excited that ten years later she will be able to serve in the church that helped clarify her call and has supported her in the Benefice of High Wycombe in the parish of Iver.

Simon Russell had previously worked as an Outdoor Instructor and Youth Worker before his call to ordained ministry. He loves the outdoors and adventure in his spare time. Simon has been a Christian nearly all his life and is looking forward to the challenges and joys of the next phase of ministry.