Revd Mark Tanner was instituted as the new vicar of Holy Trinity Church Ripon by Bishop James Bell in a service at the church on Saturday 31 March.
Nearly 400 people came to celebrate the event, at which Mark's wife, Lindsay Tanner, was also licensed as a reader and Revd Alison Montgomery, who has led the church during the ‘interregnum' period, was licensed as associate minister.
The vacancy occurred in February 2006 after Revd David Mann, who had been vicar of Holy Trinity for 12 years, moved to London to take up the position of selection secretary/national adviser for pre-theological education at the Church of England. The process of selecting a new vicar is always a lengthy one, but Holy Trinity is delighted to have been able to welcome its new vicar after only a year.
Mark leaves behind him a vacancy at St Mary's, Wheatley, Doncaster , where he served as vicar for five years. Before that, he was curate of St Mary's at Upton , on the Wirral, and prior to his theological training at Cranmer Hall, Durham , he was youth pastor at Holy Trinity, Coventry .
“We're delighted to come to Ripon, and particularly to such a welcoming and Godly church as Holy Trinity,”said Mark . “I am excited and encouraged as I take up this post, and look forward to living and working alongside the other churches in this great city.”
The induction service involved contributions from children and adults from a broad cross-section of the community, including: Jenny Ruth Workshops, who presented Mark with a multi-coloured cross; Martin Pearman, headmaster of Ripon Grammar School, speaking on behalf of both secondary schools; Revd Graham Sturdy of Allhallowgate Methodist Church, who expressed a warm welcome and spirit of partnership on behalf of Ripon Churches Together; the new dean of Ripon, Very Revd Keith Jukes, who expressed his desire for the city's Anglican parishes to work closely together; and Cllr John Stockdale, mayor of Ripon. |
