On 2nd July, Anthony Davis was ordained deacon at St Albans Cathedral. He will serve his curacy in our benefice.
The word "Curate" comes from the responsibility for the “cure of souls”, something which Tim received from the Bishop at his licensing as our Priest-in-charge. Technically therefore Rev. Anthony is the Assistant Curate. As a job, it’s a bit like an apprenticeship. After two years of academic training for ministry, Tim will be continuing Anthony's training over three years with a more practical focus, training by doing. Thereafter, Anthony should be signed off and qualified to become a Rector/ Vicar/ Priest-in-charge himself.
A Deacon is one of the three ‘orders’ of ministry (deacon, priest and bishop) and the word comes from the Greek for ‘servant’, from Jesus’ charge to his disciples to be servants as he washed their feet. As a deacon, Anthony can conduct funerals and baptisms, preach, assist at Holy Communion, and lead services. This time next year he will be ordained Priest and then can also consecrate the bread and wine at communion and pronounce God’s absolution or
belssing. Deacons are also called to serve the wider community, in the words of the ordination service, ‘searching out the poor and weak, the sick and lonely and those who are oppressed and powerless, reaching into the forgotten corners of the world, that the love of God may be made visible.’