Our Seminarians

Fr Gary Carter

Fr Gary was ordained in Arundel Cathedral on 5 July 2025, after seminary formation at Allen Hall in London and his ordination to the diaconate at Westminster Cathedral in June 2024 and is currently at Allen Hall in London. Speaking before his priestly ordination, he said:

'I am from the Parish of St Erconwald in Walton on Thames and am now in seminary at Allen Hall. I studied Theology at the University of Chester for my undergraduate and masters degrees. After university, I worked at the local Catholic secondary school before beginning seminary. During this time, I was received into the Church and eventually began the formal process of discernment for the priesthood (after some years of prayer and many good conversations regarding vocations). I have spent time on placements in Chichester, Worthing, Horsham and Woking and Christ the Prince of Peace, Weybridge.'

Fr Scott Coleman

Like Fr Gary, Scott was ordained to the diaconate at Westminster Cathedral in June 2024 and to the priesthood in Arundel on 5 July 2025. Before his priestly ordination, he said:

‘I was baptised in the Church of England while studying Law at university, and soon began exploring ideas about vocation. I spent some time working in parishes in central London to try it out, and then began training for the Anglican ministry. During that time I felt the pull of the Universal Church and became a Catholic. After a year’s placement in a Catholic parish I went to the English College in Valladolid, Spain, for an introductory year. I spent a year’s placement in Guildford Parish, which was a fruitful, enjoyable, at times challenging, and truly blessed year of active ministry, before returning for two more years’ study at the seminary with a renewed sense of purpose and joy in my vocation.'

Barnabas Mercer

Barnabas Mercer is studying at the Venerable English College in Rome and was instituted as an Acolyte in 2025. He says:

"I grew up in Rottingdean, in the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes. After college, I read Theology at university, where I sensed a call to priesthood as my studies concluded. I continued my discernment whilst working in education, primarily in a pastoral capacity, before entering formation.

"I am now officially a candidate for Holy Orders, and have been instituted as a Lector and Acolyte. Having completed my pastoral year in the diocese, I have returned to Rome to continue my theology studies at the Angelicum."

THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF

ARUNDEL & BRIGHTON

Our Faith

Fr Gary Carter

Fr Scott Coleman

Barnabas Mercer