The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, presided over a colourful ceremony in a packed St Paul's Cathedral on Saturday, which saw a record number of candidates ordained in the Diocese of London.
Of the 566 who will be ordained deacon in the Church of England this year nationally, the growing church in London produces more ordinands than any other diocese.
In total 45 candidates, of whom 16 were women, were ordained by the Bishop of London to the office of deacon. The Bishop of London was assisted in the service by the Diocese of London's Area Bishops of Stepney, Edmonton, Kensington and Willesden, and more than a dozen other bishops and 300 clergy were also crowded into the cathedral.
