On 6 May 2015, Abba Seraphim and Deacon Daniel attended the Licensing and Installation of a new priest in charge and a assistant priest for the Parish of St. George-in-the-East at Shadwell. The traditional legal formalities (which included ringing the church bell) took place during a Votive Eucharist of the Holy Spirit. These are the Rev’d Canon Dr. Angus Ritchie and the Rev’d Timothy Clapton.  Canon Ritchie is the Executive Director of CTC (Centre for Theology & Community) and Father Timothy is the Director of the Urban Leadership School. The work of CTC is to equip churches to transform their communities through community organising, theological reflection and prayer. It is already based in the crypt of St. George’s but now will enter into a partnership with the parish, the Bishop of Stepney (The Right Rev’d Adrian Newman)  and a lay resident community of up to six young people based at the Rectory.  It will initially run for an experimental period of 16 months.

Abba Seraphim was among a number of ecumenical guests who welcomed the priests to their new ministry and spoke warmly of the value of sustaining a core community of prayer and service at the heart of every larger Christian community. The Orthodox London Mission is in its fourth year of using St. George-in-the-East for Orthodox worship as well as the regular monthly Orthodox Study Group and is happy to play its part in the wider Christian witness centred on this historic church.