The Ordination of Grant Crowe, Lichfield Cathedral, 29th June 2003
On the 29th June 2003 our own Curate, John Ewart, was ordained in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh. I wasn't able to make the journey to his ordination with the many who went to support him from Derryloran. However, ever the odd one out, I did make it to Lichfield Cathedral on the same day to support an ex-parishioner, Grant Crowe (I was in the same year at Cookstown High); and has now moved in to the Anglican Ministry in the Midlands.
Grant got no warning I was going to arrive; I didn't even know myself for sure until only the day before. When I arrived, I caught Grant's last moments as a "normal". While my camera was warming up he spied me in the distance and promptly made his way across. That's him in the blue shirt heading down the path... Actually, I was very lucky he was still around; I didn't realise it was a ticket only event! Lucky for me, Grant was able to convince the Stewards to let me in. Things could have turned out quite badly, had I been turned away after having driven a couple of hours to Lichfield from Cambridge! Nonetheless it was pleasing that there were so many people in God's house on the day that space was short and tickets were needed. If only it were like that every week in Derryloran!
After the service, I found myself on the hill outside the Cathedral trying to find Grant. Can you find him? He's just in front of the red shirt, below the first single-storey's window that you can barely see to the right of the Cathedral (pretty much dead centre of the photo, oddly enough!). I'm sure you'll need to zoom in to spot that though...
And here we see the red shirt revealed. That's Nigel, the Rector of the Parish in Burton-on-Trent at which Grant will be working.
Then, last but not least we have the proud family altogether.
Congratulations Grant. We all wish you the very best, and pray that God will continue to guide you to serve him as best you can.