Stephen Dunton will be ordained as an Anglican Priest atPetertide having served as a Roman Catholic Deacon for the past eight years. Hewill be serving his curacy in Pershore with Pinvin, Wick & Birlingham.Here, Steve tells us the story of his journey to becoming an Anglican Priest.
I was born in Derbyshire, but moved to Redditch when I was5. My family wasnt at all religious and my faith journey only started age 14when a school teacher showed the film The Cross and the Switchblade about aminister working with gangs in New York. There was a follow up session with theteacher explaining about the Christian faith and something just clicked.
I was baptised and confirmed age 14, originally attending aMethodist Church before moving to an Anglican church in Redditch where I becamea server. It was there that I had the initial stirrings that I might be calledto ordained ministry and at around age 18 I spoke to my vicar about it andbegan the selection process. Sadly, I was turned down for ministry at age 20and so instead trained to be a teacher, teaching RE in a Secondary School for25 years. It was at this point that I began attending a Roman Catholic Church.
Gradually the call to ordination began to emerge again andin my mid-30s, I began training to become a Roman Catholic deacon by thatpoint I was married with children. I trained part time and juggled work andfamily with my studies before being ordained to the Deaconate in 2011. Icontinued to combine parish life at my RC Church in Studley with teaching at alocal Catholic Secondary School.
It was when I became Chair of Churches Together in Studleyand spent time with clergy of other denominations that I began to realise I hadmore in common with Anglicans. Clergy colleagues also began to mention thatthey thought I might be in the wrong place. Then I had an experience in DurhamCathedral where I really felt God was calling me to be a Priest in the AnglicanChurch. I had a real sense that if I trusted God, then all would be well. Aftera great deal of prayer and talking to others, I contacted Diocesan Director ofOrdinands and Vocation, John Fitzmaurice, and in May last year I was acceptedfor training to be an Anglican Priest after attending a Candidates Panel forclergy from other denominations.
With the support of my wife, who also felt this was Godswill, I left teaching last July and moved with my family to Cuddesdon Collegein Oxford to complete a years residential training. Im now really excited tobecome ordained as an Anglican Priest in Worcester Cathedral and move toPershore to serve the community there alongside the Revd Claire Lording.I cant wait to become a full time ministerand to be able to preside at the Lords table. God has done so much in my lifeand I want to continue to share his love and to grow in my own ministry. Ivehad lots of support from my former Roman Catholic Community too Im sograteful for the opportunities Ive had and all I have learnt, but I really feellike Ive come home. Ill be bringing all my experiences into my new ministry.
Steve is married to Hannah, a musician who teaches piano.They have five children three are grown up and two are aged 7 & 11. Thewhole family is looking forward to moving to Pershore.
