Three women have joined the Bishop of Stepney’s team of clergy in east London after their ordinations including a student of the banjo.

East London Advertiser: Bishop of Stepney Adrian Newman with his three new women deacons, Erin Clark (far left) going to St Matthew Bethnal Green, Sarah McDonald to Hope Church Islington and Caroline Shuttleworth to St Mary IslingtonBishop of Stepney Adrian Newman with his three new women deacons, Erin Clark (far left) going to St Matthew Bethnal Green, Sarah McDonald to Hope Church Islington and Caroline Shuttleworth to St Mary Islington (Image: Graham Lacdao)

They were among 32 men and women ordained to the office of deacon at St Paul’s Cathedral by the Bishop of London on Saturday.

“They are all no strangers to the East End,” Bishop of Stepney Adrian Newman said. “They know and love this part of London and will make a great contribution to our community.”

Among them is Erin Clark, joining St Matthew’s parish church in Bethnal Green, who was brought up in Michigan in the USA and moved to London in 2008 for a community arts internship. She ended up staying, then trained as a sociologist and worked as a freelance writer for charities before her calling for ordination.

Erin in her spare time is a runner, a writer and is learning the piano, banjo and ukule!