LOTS of clergy see their sons and daughters get ordained - not many see their mums acquiring a dog collar!

Mark and Gloria Steadman - both now ordained as Anglican clergy

But when Gloria Steadman was ordained deacon at Portsmouth's Anglican cathedral, she was following her son Mark into the ranks of the clergy.

The 59-year-old former quantity surveyor was one of a bumper crop of new clergy recruits - a total of 25 people ordained deacon or priest by the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth in June 2004. This was the largest number to be ordained at one time in this diocese in living memory.

In fact, so many family and friends were expected at the cathedral for the two ordination services that it installed cameras relaying images to large screens around the building so that everyone could see. More than 600 people were at both services – it was standing room only.

The ordinations were in two groups –the Rt Rev Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth, ordained 11 people as deacons at 6pm on June 26 and 14 people as priests at 10.30am on June 27.

Gloria Steadman’s path to ordination involved many years of service at All Saints’, Catherington, as PCC treasurer, house group leader, Alpha course leader and treasurer at Catherington House, the former diocesan retreat centre. But she had felt a nagging calling to ordained ministry for many years.

“There were a number of people who went forward for ordination from Catherington,” she said. “Seeing them as examples and journeying with them through their training was a big thing.

“I likened God to a small child nagging at me. Then when Mark was selected for ordination, I decided I had no more excuses for not testing my vocation. As soon as I did, the nagging stopped!”

The path to priesthood for Mark, now 30, was very different. He was working as an ecclesiastical lawyer in London when he realised that people both at work and at home were encouraging him to get ordained.

The mother and son were able to compare theological courses - Mark’s was residential at Westcott House, Cambridge, whereas Gloria studied at home on the Salisbury-based STETS course.

“It’s quite common to find the sons and daughters of clergy being ordained,” said Mark. “I think I was the first ordinand at my theological college to acquire a mother who was going to be ordained too!”

Mark is now assistant curate at St Mary’s Church, Fratton, whereas Gloria - who has spent two and a half years learning the ropes at All Saints’, Denmead - has now become assistant curate in Farlington.

Among others ordained were Colin Prestidge, who will divide his ministry between Stubbington churches and Gosport’s War Memorial Hospital, and Frances Gates, who will share her time between three parishes in Portsmouth.

Those ordained deacon (which means they will be an assistant curate, able to lead most services, preach and be called ‘the Rev’) were: Jane Beloe (St John the Baptist, Shedfield); Frances Gates (St Mary’s, All Saints & St George’s, Portsmouth); Ruth Loveman (St Mark’s, North End); Daron Medway (Holy Rood & St Edmund’s, Stubbington); Mary Morfill (St Barnabas, Swanmore); Sandra Phillips (Christ Church, Portsdown); Colin Prestidge (Holy Rood & St Edmund’s, Stubbington; and War Memorial Hospital, Gosport); Gloria Steadman (St Andrew’s & Church of the Resurrection, Farlington); David Stroud (St Mary’s & St Saviour’s, Liss); James Tabor (St Mary’s, St Francis and St Faith’s, Alverstoke) and Debbie Youell (St Wilfrid’s & Westbrook Church, Cowplain).

Those ordained priest (which usually happens one year after they are ordained deacon and means they can also lead Communion services and conduct wedding services) on Sunday were: the Rev Keith Adlam (Binstead & Havenstreet); the Rev Andrew Bridgen (St Mary’s, Portchester); the Rev Andrew Fordyce (Liphook and Bramshott); the Rev Jane Hemmings (Bishop’s Waltham and Upham); the Rev Laura Humphrys (Shorwell, Gatcombe & Chale): and the Rev Angela Johnson (Clanfield & Catherington); the Rev Charles Keay (St Faith, Havant & St Nicholas, Langstone); the Rev Gary Keith (Botley, Curdridge & Durley); the Rev Wendy Kennedy (Leigh Park & Warren Park); the Rev Wendy Mallas (St Mary’s & St Saviour’s, Liss); the Rev Barry Smith (Blendworth, Chalton & Idsworth); the Rev Roger Whatley (St Thomas’s & St John’s, Newport); the Rev David Williams (St Faith, Havant & St Nicholas, Langstone); and the Rev Beth Woodgate (St Faith’s, Lee-on-the-Solent).