Curates from across the diocese come together for training in liturgy and worship

Training for the priesthood or the diaconate in the Church of England takes about 7 years. 3 of those years of study and formation are normally completed before ordination. 3 - 4 years of training and formation continue after ordination, in what was once called "post-ordination training". Today this is called IME 4 - 7. Such post-ordination training is compulsory in the Church of England. In the Diocese in Europe IME 4 - 7 is delivered in residential sessions held twice a year.

A recent IME 4-7 session focussing on aspects of liturgy and worship took place at St. Columba's House, Woking, from May 13-16. Ten curates gathered from across the Diocese in Europe, from Armenia, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey and Spain. They spent an inspiring couple of days exploring our rich liturgical tradition, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer to the many possibilities offered in Common Worship. The residential sessions also provide an opportunity for the Director of Training to have conversations with each curate about their progress in the early years of ministry.

The Revd Canon Ulla Monberg thanks the Revd Lindsay Yates for her facilitation of the IME 4 - 7 sessions

The sessions on liturgy and worship were facilitated by the Revd Lindsay Yates, until recently Chaplain of Westcott House Cambridge, Canon William Gulliford, the Diocesan Director of Ordinands, and Canon Ulla Monberg, the Diocesan Director of Training.

Canon Monberg reports that the evaluation forms completed by the participants indicate that the sessions were a valuable, enriching and enjoyable time for the curates.