Curate, ordained to deacon in 2025
On 21 June 2025, Dave Cosslett was ordained as a deacon at Liverpool Cathedral, marking a significant milestone in his journey. Dave’s journey so far has been shaped by faith and community, and reaching out to more people to help them to know God.
Dave now serves in a self-supporting capacity in Church Wigan while continuing his long-standing career in IT at a company in Warrington. He also acts as company secretary for Surf Stage and balances ministry, work, and family life with his wife Catherine who is also a priest in Church Wigan, and their three sons: Jake, Zak and Shaun.
Born in Liverpool, Dave spent his early years in Merseyside, where his father was vicar at both St Mark’s, Childwall, and later St John’s, Burscough. After his father’s death while Dave was still young, the family relocated and education saw him move for a period of time to Canterbury.
Originally training as a chef at Runshaw College in Leyland, Dave worked in kitchens across the UK, from London to Scotland but eventually realised this wasn’t the path for him. He returned to the North West, retrained in IT, and secured an apprenticeship with a company that he still works with today.
Dave and Catherine married shortly after he began his IT career. Not long after, they both felt called to serve in a deeper way. With another couple from St John’s, Burscough, they moved to Skelmersdale to plant a new church. For 16 years, this experimental church model sought to ‘live out their faith in the community’ whether that was by visiting people in their homes or meeting them in the local pub. Whether that meant meeting people in their homes, at the pub, or in shared neighbourhood spaces.
Although Dave had long supported Catherine in her ordained ministry, he never initially saw himself on that same path. He assumed his role was to stand alongside her. But as time went on, he couldn’t ignore a deeper call. The year Catherine was ordained, Dave felt that God was reaching out to him directly.
Encouraged by conversations with the Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands, Dave began to explore the possibility of ordained ministry. Reading Being a Deacon Today proved pivotal, confirming for him that the diaconate was a natural continuation of the community-focused work he had already been doing.
“I realised that being a deacon would allow me to become a bridge between the church and the wider community,” he explained.
Now officially a self-supporting minister, Dave continues working in IT while serving in ministry. He often finds himself having conversations about faith in his workplace, embodying the deacon’s call to bring the gospel to places where it might not otherwise reach.
“Being a deacon allows me to bring my faith into every aspect of my life,” he added
To those wondering if ordained ministry might be for them, Dave offers simple advice: explore.
“The Distinctive Deacons Network was a real wealth of knowledge for me,” he said. “It’s full of people at different stages, exploring, training, newly ordained and seasoned deacons, and is a great space to ask questions.”
He encourages anyone who enjoys bridging the gap between church and community or has a real passion for people on the margins to consider whether God might be calling them too.
Self-supporting ministry has allowed Dave to build a rhythm that works for his life. He recently reduced his IT work to three days a week to give more time to ministry. “It’s a flexible way of serving,” he shared. “The Spirit moves when the Spirit moves.”
This year, Dave’s journey took an unexpected turn when he faced a serious health scare that required a week in hospital. Throughout this difficult time, he was deeply grateful for the support of the Diocese of Liverpool’s vocations team, especially Suzanne and Lizzy, who helped ensure his first year in ministry wouldn’t place further strain on his health.
“The flexibility of self-supporting ministry really helped me balance everything,” Dave said. “It’s not always neat, but the support has made it sustainable.”
He believes that anyone with a calling, regardless of background or time available, should know there’s a place for them.
“God doesn’t ask you to burn out. He just asks for the time you can give.”
