Portsmouth: former Anglican bishop ordained to Catholic priesthood

The former Bishop Edwin Barnes

Edwin Barnes was ordained priest by Bishop Crispian Hollis at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth on Saturday 5 March.

Bishop Crispian was assisted at the Ordination by Father Keith Newton, the Ordinary of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Father Edwin was the last of the five former Anglican bishops who resigned from the Church of England earlier this year to enter the Ordinariate. Among the concelebrating priests were the other four former Anglican bishops as well as a number of former Anglicans who are now Catholic priests.

In his homily, Bishop Crispian spoke of Edwin’s humble approach to the sacrament of Holy Orders, saying “...you had worked as a deacon, priest and bishop in the Church of England for many years, and yet, here you are, as it were, starting all over again at the bottom of the ministerial ladder. I have no doubt that this was hard for you, but at the same time, there is a real sense of continuity and, indeed, fulfilment, in your journey towards ordination to the priesthood today”.

At the end of the Mass, Bishop Crispian called forward Father Edwin and his wife, Jane for a special blessing, pointing out that although he seldom ordains marries priests, it is the practice in Portsmouth diocese to give this blessing when he ordains married deacons. Fr Keith Newton thanked Bishop Crispian presiding over the ordination and also for his tremendous support for the Ordinariate. He also referred to Bishop Crispian’s Lent Pastoral Letter explaining and commending the Ordinariate to the diocese.

Fr Edwin said: “I have been made very welcome and supported by Bishop Crispian and I look forward to being of service to the diocese. I have already preached in the diocese as a deacon and I will celebrate my first Mass at St Anne’s, Brockenhurst”.

Source: Portsmouth Diocese