We are continuing to celebrate our soon-to-be-Reverends, who will have been ordained by this time next week. We will be sharing two stories a day in the lead-up to the Ordination of Deacons service. This afternoon’s story comes from Patrick Corley.
How was Patrick called?
Growing up in a family without Christian faith, I first encountered the transforming love of God through my parents’ sudden and unexpected conversion when I was around 11 years old. Watching their relationship with one another, with our family, and with the wider world develop so profoundly made Christianity increasingly compelling for me. Over time, my siblings and I have come to faith in our own distinct ways, and the story of God’s work in my family continues to shape my confidence in His desire to bring restoration, healing and hope. Faithful prayer has always been central to that story and remains foundational for my own discipleship and ministry.
At 16, I left mainstream education to undertake a football scholarship. However, a serious ACL injury brought those ambitions to an end and sparked a formative season of wrestling with the presence of God amidst suffering and personal disappointment. During rehabilitation, I experienced what I believe was a tangible answer to prayer while at the New Wine Festival, where several months’ worth of physical healing was received and a renewed sense of calling emerged. That same season led me into a New Wine Discipleship Year, where I served in Student and Youth ministries and explored my vocational calling.
In 2018, I met my wife, Harriet, who has since qualified as a Clinical Psychologist. We married in 2022, and much of my understanding of God’s grace, justice and compassion has been deepened through life alongside her and our family. Harriet now works within Forensic Mental Health Services and, through her clinical work and research, I have continued to learn about humanity and what it means to embrace suffering and embody hope.
Before ordination training, I worked supporting families and individuals affected by learning disabilities. That experience exposed both the loneliness many people bear and the importance and value of being a compassionate, enduring presence. It also strengthened my conviction that the Church ought to actively disciple people in the places they already inhabit, beyond seeing vocational ministry as internal to the Church.
Training at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford has deepened both my theological confidence in and my dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Alongside spiritual direction and shared rhythms of prayer, it has consolidated my passion for helping people discover their identity in Christ, grow in confidence in prayer, and participate fully in God’s redemptive work within their communities. I’m excited to learn from and endeavour to be a gift to Christ Church Epsom Common - adventure awaits!
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32
Find out more on our ordinations page.