We are continuing to celebrate our soon-to-be-Reverends, who are being ordained this week. We are sharing two stories a day in the lead-up to the Ordination of Deacons service on Sunday. This afternoon's story comes from Tristan Stone.
How was Tristan called?
Privileged to grow up in a Christian home in coastal Kent, my second earliest memory is sitting on my mum’s bed, inviting Jesus into my heart, aged three. (Mum tells me it was at a really inconvenient moment, just before dinner!)
I had been training to be a concert pianist (or, as a backup, orchestral violinist) when the idea popped into my head one day, aged 12, that I should be a priest. It certainly wasn’t my own, so I started to explore it. I was encouraged by my various incumbents and, as I spent more time singing in my church choir and heading towards A-Levels, I decided to study Theology at University to test my vocation (and faith).
Aged 20, I received an initial ‘yes, but go and have some life’ from the discernment process, so I ‘fell into’ teaching English, Philosophy, and Music in various local, non-selective schools.
In 2013, I met Laura, and we were married in 2015. I moved to ‘The Big Smoke’ in Greater London and helped found Harris Westminster Sixth Form. I had a large pastoral role at the school, which was very rewarding, but I felt something was missing in terms of not being able to offer to pray with the students, or tell more people the good news of what God has done for them in Jesus Christ.
Working around the corner from Westminster Abbey, and undertaking a Fellowship programme with the Abbey Institute, I felt God calling me to explore ordination again. One of the minor canons volunteered at our school and I realised he was able to exercise a ministry which I couldn’t by virtue of his office (and clerical collar) — even though he wasn’t officially a chaplain.
After the birth of our amazing daughter, Hattie, on Advent Sunday 2019, and during the ensuing pandemic, I came to work for a school more local to us and restarted the discernment process.
In 2023, I left teaching to become the inaugural Rising Generations Pastor at the newly-revitalised Leatherhead Parish Church, and I’ve learned so much about ministry working with the team there, and have grown in my walk with Jesus. I’ve also loved studying for an MA as a context-based student at Trinity College, Bristol, and, along with my passion for creative writing and “Imaginal Theology”, love using my mind as part of my worship and love of God.
I would encourage anyone who senses they are being called to ordained ministry to listen to others, read scripture and know that God is patient. He has been with me! And it’s all His initiative.
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:10