Archbishop to Ordain Fourteen Candidates

Ordinations 2010

The Archbishop has said:

"I have met with all the candidates prior to their ordination and they all have special gifts to offer in their ministry. It is a joyous occasion for all of them.

The path to finding God can vary for each person; in some cases it can be a natural growing towards their vocation – whilst for others it can take the form of unexpected twists and turns as in Matt's case, but we welcome all the new ordinands and pray for them in their new roles and in their ministry."

Eight men and six women from across the Diocese of York will be ordained Priest: one of those people is Matt Martinson, an ex-offender and armed robber.

The Revd Matt Martinson is currently curate at St Nicholas Church in Beverley. He said "I feel really excited about my Ordination, but it's taken a long way to get here. When I come to York on 30^th May, I'll cross over Lendal Bridge on my way from the train station – I used to live in a boat under that bridge. To look back where I've come from, to where I've come, is to see God's grace at work.

"My father was an alcoholic and a drug addict, and used to knock me about. Inevitably, that has an effect on you, and I joined the army to get away from that – it was join the army or go to prison. The army didn't work out, and eventually I came out of the army and ended up taking drink and drugs seriously. My life became violent, and I ended up living in a boat on the river. It wasn't anything fancy, just a boat, but it was a roof over my head. But eventually that went, and I ended up sleeping rough in York. I progressed into the criminal scene, and ended up in a real mess.

"It was at that point that I made a deal with God. I said to him, 'If you get me caught alive, I will bow my knee to you', because at that time I was getting involved in armed robbery, and with the firearms issues the violence was growing, and it was a very dangerous world. I'd come to the point in my life when I'd had enough, I couldn't take any more. I tried to commit suicide, but it didn't work.

"God got me caught alive. When I was caught, I was put in a police cell up in Carlisle, and instead of being interviewed straight away, I was left in the cell. I heard God speak to me – not audibly – and say 'Make a choice'. And I knew then that that was one of those eternity moments, and I had to choose whether I was going to accept God or not. And I just said 'Yes'. I looked at my life, and thought 'I'm looking at a severe prison sentence, I'm in a hell-hole, what more of a mess can You make? I've made it this bad, what can You do?'

"I got sentenced to eleven years, but I got my parole, which was God's grace, and I served four years in the end. Prison was prison. It's not a nice place; it's a very hard place, especially for a Christian. I had the privilege of being able to get on all the wings in the prison, but I wouldn't take drugs round – that's what you normally do if you can get on all the wings – but I made a decision as a Christian not to do that. So that caused me no end of problems. But I just had to trust that God was at work, and He was, and He got me in the prison that I needed to be in – HMP Wolds. It's got a fantastic chaplaincy team, led at that time by the Revd Dave Casswell. He's an amazing guy, and he helped nurture my faith, and helped me to grow as a Christian.

"Coming out prison was hard. My whole life changed. One of the chaplains broke the rules, and allowed me to stay with him, but the adjustment coming out was just horrendous. I got work with a marquee firm, putting up tents. It was a great job, but I wanted more of God. At that time I was going to Christ Church in Bridlington, where I met my future wife, Haley. Our eyes met across a crowed pew! We've been married for ten years now, with a little boy called Seth.

"After we were married, we were walking on the beach and said to God, 'Whatever You want, God, wherever you want us to go, we'll go'. And God sent us to Beverley, but on a roundabout route. I had to learn a lot - we went to Mexborough for me to do a degree in theology. I was dyslexic, I couldn't read or write, and there I was doing a degree in theology. I graduated and we set up a charity called Beyond Bars, working with ex-offenders, drug addicts, and alcoholics. I saw God do some amazing things in people's lives, and when it was time to move on we went back up to Bridlington. -

"We went to see the Vicar of Christ Church in Bridlington, the Revd Jonathan Couper, and told him I was thinking of becoming a vicar. I expected him to say 'wait a while, find your feet here', but he told me he believed in what I was saying, and in six months time I was on an ordination panel being accepted to be a priest! I went to training college, and progressed from there, and now I'm in Beverley, learning the ropes under the Revd Jonathan Evans.

"God spoke to me when I was in prison, and told me 'Someday, you'll be an ordained vicar'. I laughed! But this sense of calling just kept growing, and through all I've done, it's progressed to where I am now. Seeing the fruition of that calling is just – wow. God still takes my breath away."

The Revd David Mann is the Diocesan Adviser on Vocations, and as part of his job prepares the candidates for ordination. He said, "Matt's story shows how God can change a person's life. He's been helped by some great priests in his journey, and I'm sure he will be just as inspirational in his ministry. Matt and all the people who will be ordained on Sunday 30th May are called to build up the Body of Christ in the Church, and in the world, through celebration, worship, teaching and pastoral care. Each will have a ministry of leadership and mission, enabling all Christian people to realise their potential as they witness to Christ in the world."

The people being ordained and the parishes in which they serve are:

• Graham Bowkett (Thirsk Team Ministry)
• Marie Edwards (Middlesbrough St Agnes)
• Margaret Ellison (York St Hilda & York St Lawrence w St Nicholas)
• Mike Fairey (York St Hilda)
• Michael Grandey (Haxby with Wigginton)
• Elizabeth Hassall (Bempton w Flamborough, Reighton w Speeton)
• Paul Johnson (Whorlton with Carlton and Faceby)
• Daphne Kitching (Swanland )
• Trevor Lewis (St Martin of Tours w St Cuthbert, Middlesbrough)
• Matthew Martinson (Beverley St Nicholas)
• Alistair Rycroft (York St Michael-le-Belfrey)
• Andrew Simpson (Hessle)
• Carol Tetley (Anlaby)
• Rachel Young (Beverley Minster)

For further information on the ordinations, contact Eleanor Course, York Diocese Communications Officer: 01904 699530, 07946 748702