Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Diocese of Exeter: Additional Ordained Ministers

Thursday 15 June 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Church of England assessed the merits of recruiting additional ordained ministers into parish ministry in the Diocese of Exeter.
  • The Diocese of Exeter increased the number of new curates with financial assistance from the Church Commissioners.
  • Ordinand Kenny Wickens will be the curate at Our Lady and All Saints in Torquay.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Foster Con
Religion & Faith
Context

The question pertains to the Church of England's assessment on recruiting additional ordained ministers in the diocese of Exeter.

Question

What recent assessment has the Church of England made of the potential merits of recruiting additional ordained ministers into parish ministry in the diocese of Exeter?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I am delighted to tell my hon. Friend that, with financial assistance from the Church Commissioners, the Diocese of Exeter has increased the number of new curates to tell more people the good news about Jesus. On 1 July it will ordain 18 new ministers, 11 of whom are stipendiary and seven are self-supporting.

Answered
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Q2 Kevin Foster Con
Religion & Faith
Context

The question addresses the Church of England's evaluation on the situation in deprived communities in Torbay, specifically looking at where an additional ordained minister could bring real value to those communities.

Question

My hon. Friend will be aware that some of the diocese of Exeter's most challenged parishes are in the Torbay deanery, where an ordained minister can not only bring people into Christ's flock but be a lynchpin for wider community work. Has the Church of England looked at the situation of deprived communities in Torquay and Paignton to see where an additional ordained minister may be able to bring real value to those communities?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I am very pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that Ordinand Kenny Wickens is soon to be the curate at Our Lady and All Saints, Torquay. I would also like to pass on my thanks to two inspirational priests in my hon. Friend's constituency, the Reverend Sam Leach from Saint Mags church in Torquay and the Reverend Matt Bray from the Bay Church in Paignton, for the work they do in running the Living Room café, and groups for children and young people across the Torbay constituency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a direct assessment of deprived communities or specific value additional ordained ministers could bring to those areas.

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