The 2025 Petertide Ordinations in the Diocese of Sheffield will take place at Sheffield Cathedral on the 5 and 6 July, with ordinands for the 6 July sharing some short bios ahead of then.
On Saturday 5 July the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, will ordain 16 priests at 4pm. On Sunday 6 July the Bishop of Sheffield will ordain seven deacons at 10.30am. The Revd Richard White will preach at both services.
Meet the seven people to be deaconed:
Albert Ong
I was brought up in a Christian home but had a life-changing encounter with Jesus at university. My other life-changing experience at university was meeting Hiroko who later became my wife! Together we have travelled around England courtesy of the NHS and have had the privilege of worshipping, learning and serving in several Anglican churches during our medical training, notably in Middlesborough, London and Oxford before coming to Sheffield. We have been members of St Thomas Crookes (and Philadelphia) for over 25 years where we started and led ministries to international people. I will be starting ordained ministry as a part-time self-supporting curate at STC.
Our spiritual heritage derives from the English, Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese and East Asian Church and the heart of our calling is to see the local church reflect more of the life, energy and beauty of the global church of Christ. Having been blessed by the input of many spiritual fathers and mothers, we long to pass on what we have received onto the next generation.
Alistair Munday
I was raised in Warwickshire until leaving for Yorkshire to study Electronics and Music Technology. I spent seven years as a software developer in Leeds before training for ministry at Trinity College Bristol. I have always loved Jesus and had a profound experience of the Holy Spirit when I was 8. Growing up, I was often the awkward keen-bean, gathering my inexplicably obliging friends for impromptu worship sessions and Bible studies. I am a Husband and Father: My wife, Jess, is also being ordained this Petertide, and our two wonderful kids, Ezra and Iris, are joining us too.
My calling springs from a deep desire to see vibrant, diverse, Holy Spirit-filled communities truly reflect the unity and freedom found in Christ, and join in with God’s work in the world.
I’m excited to return to Yorkshire and join my TI Claire in partnering with what God is up to at Christ Church Hackenthorpe.
Ben Lacey
Ben grew up in Rotherham and Doncaster. He studied German in London before training as a teacher. In 2006, Ben married Bethan and moved to Sheffield where they had three children and were part of church families at St Thomas’ Crookes and St Tim’s Crookes. Until 2022, Ben was working as an RE teacher, Head of Year and Assistant Head in two secondary schools.
Ben has trained for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham. He completed a BA in Theology and Religion and is now completing work on his Masters dissertation on the theme of attention, smartphones and selected works of Thomas Merton. His other interests include music (piano, singing, listening to music ranging from Blur to Bill Evans to Brahms), walking and cycling, gardening, cats, coffee and craft beer. The whole family is thrilled to be back home in Sheffield near friends and family, and joining All Saints Ecclesall, where Ben will serve his curacy.
Jess Munday
I began to follow Christ when I was 19 and felt a call to the church shortly after. It has taken a while to process the specifics of that call, but it has ultimately led to ordination and a heart to love and serve the Church and world, and to make Christ known. In the meantime, I’ve enjoyed working in volunteer management, adult social work and in various ministry roles.
Originally from North Wales, I’ve lived in Yorkshire (York and Leeds) for the last decade, having met my husband, Alasdair, at University in York. Together, we have two wonderful children, Ezra and Iris.
I’ve loved studying theology over the last three years at Trinity College Bristol, where I’ve been working towards an MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission. However, I’m very excited to be back up North, to explore Sheffield and to begin curacy at Heeley Parish church.
Joel Carle
I was brought up in a Christian family, where faith wasn’t just spoken about but lived out daily—from prayerful conversations around the dinner table to our time serving as missionaries in Africa. Though I would have called myself a Christian, I wrestled with a deep sense of unworthiness – convinced I could never be ‘good enough’ for God – alongside a stubborn desire to live life on my own terms. But in his goodness towards me, and through the gentle guidance of many wise people who pointed me to his word, God patiently revealed to me that his love is not conditional on me reaching some unattainable threshold, but is freely given, especially when I fall short. This realisation has been like a weight lifted from my shoulders. It continues to shape not only my understanding of God but also the way I seek to live each day, resting in his unfailing grace.
Samuel Tudor
Hi, I am Samuel Tudor and I will be Assistant Curate at Manor Parish. Over the last couple of years I have been at theological college at Westcott House in Cambridge. Before that I was an intern with the Mission to Seafarers and before that I did a year on a Mission Experience Scheme. I studied theology in Durham for my undergraduate degree and so I am very pleased to be coming back up north for curacy.
I am passionate about working as a church with the community to make a difference in people’s lives. I am really looking forward to working with Rev’d Lucy and everyone on the Manor. In my spare time I like to play darts (although I don’t claim to be good at it), go for some long walks, watch the Formula 1, and do some reading.
Will Stonham
I was blessed to be brought up in a Christian home, attending a CofE church, but it was only in my early twenties that I grasped that Jesus calls all Christians to give our whole lives for his sake and the Gospel’s (Mk 8:35). That realisation reorientated what I was living for and has led to a desire to serve Jesus in a ministry role. I have recently been living in Oxford, studying at the University whilst based at Wycliffe Hall.
Izzy and I have been married for (almost) 9 years, and we are hugely looking forward to moving to Sheffield and living for Jesus in this next season of life. Amongst many interests we both love hiking, the outdoors and friendly people. From what we’ve been told Sheffield might suit us well!