St. Matthew's Parish Church
Cobo, Guernsey

The Little Church with a Fascinating Story

The Ordination as 'priest' of Linda Le Vasseur :-

Linda tells us about the event

Linda celebrates her first Eucharist in Guernsey
Let me see photos from the event (all images copyright P. E. Guilbert )

Our site makes the News Page on Church Net (see News Page)

To celebrate her 'priesting', Rev Linda Le Vasseur celebrated her first eucharist (assisted by the Rev Michael Starr) in the ancient parish church of Ste Marie on Sunday 7th July - an event which filled the church to capacity - about 400 people coming from many walks of life and from all over the island. After the eucharist, in keeping with ancient tradition, Linda gave individual blessings to all who wished to receive them in this case the majority of those attending, and finally Michael Starr.

At the reception afterwards,Linda cut a special cake to celebrate the event

First Woman Ordained Priest - some background

On Sunday 30th June 1996, the Reverend Linda Le Vasseur was ordained priest at Winchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Winchester and became the first Anglican woman priest in Guernsey.

Linda was assisting in the Plurality of Ste Marie du Castro and St Matthews - Cobo, where she was assistant priest to the Reverend Michael Starr who is the Rector of Ste Marie and Vicar of St Matthews.

A party of about 30 well-wishers were present in Winchester Cathederal for Linda's ordination which could not be held in Guernsey owing to Ecclesiastical Laws allegedly not permitting women priests.

BBC Radio Guernsey reporter Emma Cunningham joined the party of guests who attended the ordination in Winchester and a 1 hour programme relating to the event followed on Radio Guernsey on August 30th Bank Holiday.