News articles for 2009 Click here to view news articles for: 2008 Consistory Court to rule over Walsall Wood burial error 16 November 2009 The Consistory Court of the Diocese of Lichfield is to rule over what should happen after the wrong body was accidentally buried in a grave which had been reserved for the widow of a man buried in the adjacent grave. Read More »   New vicar appointed to West Brom’s Good Shepherd Church 16 November 2009 A new vicar has been appointed to the parish of the Good Shepherd with St John in West Bromwich, which has been without a vicar since December 2008 when the previous incumbent was removed from office after a disciplinary hearing. Read More »   Burial grave mix-up at Walsall Wood St John 13 November 2009 The Vicar of St John’s Church in Walsall Wood, the Revd Nigel Carter, is seeking advice from the Diocesan Registry after a man was inadvertently buried in a grave reserved for another family. Read More »   Afghanistan democracy built while British freedoms eroded - Bishop 8 November 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield has used a Remembrance Sunday sermon to deliver a stinging critique about the direction of British democracy. Read More »   Statement: The Revd Dominic Stone 29 October 2009 The Revd Dominic Stone, the Team Vicar of Marchington, Marchington Woodlands, Kingstone and Leigh, has been charged with 16 counts of making indecent photographs of a child contrary to Section 1A of the Protection of Children Act 1978. Read More »   Hear Ye: Town Crier invites shoppers to “pull up a pew” with bishop 27 October 2009 A Town Crier will invite shoppers to 'pull up a pew with the new Bishop of Shrewsbury' on Monday. Mark Rylands will use his first day in his new role to listen to local people’s views on the Church, faith and other issues of concern. Read More »   Bishop calls on Christians to wear crosses in run-up to Christmas 25 October 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield has entered the debate about the right of Christians to wear crosses or fish badges while at work with a call for Christians to demonstrate that they “aren’t going to disappear quietly from the market place.” Read More »   Two West Midlands’ Bishops receive House of Lords call-up 23 October 2009 The Bishops of Lichfield and Hereford are set to join the House of Lords as part of the 26 senior Church of England bishops who make up the Lords Spiritual. Read More »   Stafford Hospital – “Health is far too important to be left to politicians or even hospitals” 21 October 2009 The Bishop of Stafford has delivered a sermon during a service of prayer for Stafford Hospital, in which he said “Health is far too important to be left to politicians or even hospitals”. Read More »   £16 million budget to finance more trainee clergy in West Midlands 16 October 2009 The Diocese of Lichfield is to spend more than £16 million in 2010 – the bulk of which will be used to pay for clergy in its 583 churches. Read More »   Pastoral Letter from the Bishop-Designate of Shrewsbury 2 October 2009 The Revd Canon Mark Rylands writes about the importance of being a welcoming church Read More »   Black Country defended in call for more clergy 2 October 2009 A senior West Midlands’ vicar has issued an impassioned defence of the Black Country in an attempt to attract other clergy to apply for vacant posts in the area. Read More »   Anglican welcome for new Roman Catholic Archbishop 1 October 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield has today welcomed the appointment of Bishop Bernard Longley as the new Archbishop of Birmingham. Read More »   Statement following article in the Burton Mail newspaper 24 September 2009 In response to an article in today’s Burton Mail newspaper, Gavin Drake, the director of communications for the Diocese of Lichfield, has issued the following statement: Read More »   Health fears force bishop to stand down 24 September 2009 The Bishop of Stafford has today announced his intention to retire with effect from May 2010; when he will be 61. Read More »   Bishop takes to airways to invite people “Back to Church” 21 September 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, will return to the airwaves from today (Monday 21st September) in a week-long innovative advertising campaign in which he will ask listeners to come “back to church”. Read More »   “Foundations of British society in danger of collapse” – Bishop 19 September 2009 The foundation stones of British society are in danger of falling down; and unless the church responds it can become a “lifeless, dangerous and useless distraction,” according to the Bishop of Stafford. Read More »   From Birmingham to the World (via Nazareth and Lichfield!) 13 September 2009 A Birmingham Vicar whose in interest in the world-church developed during a gap year in the Holy Land in 1975 is to be the new director of world mission for the Diocese of Lichfield. Read More »   Bishop endorses football club’s referee chaplain 4 September 2009 A football club in the West Midlands Regional League has appointed a referee as its new chaplain. Read More »   “Xenophobia and dreams of a lost empire will not make Britain great” - bishop 4 September 2009 The Bishop of Stafford has launched an attack on the ‘little-England’ mentality typified by the racist British National Party (BNP) and compared it with the ‘admirable patriotism’ of inspirational Great War serviceman Harry Patch Read More »   Bishop rewards clergy with Cathedral honours 4 September 2009 - Smestow Vale, Bucknall, Moxley, Telford, Edgmond, Oxley and Branston clergy appointed Prebendaries of Lichfield Cathedral Read More »   Boost for churches as bishop licences new local ministers 3 September 2009 Churches across the Diocese of Lichfield will receive a boost this weekend with 16 new lay ministers joining more than 400 already deployed to local churches across Staffordshire, the northern half of Shropshire and most of the Black Country. Read More »   10 Downing Street: Suffragan See of Shrewsbury 4 August 2009 The Queen has approved the nomination of the Reverend Mark James Rylands to the Suffragan See of Shrewsbury Read More »   Making disciples is primary task for new bishop 4 August 2009 Shropshire’s newest bishop says England’s churches have an ‘urgent task of making new disciples’. Read More »   Rural evangelist chosen as Bishop of Shrewsbury 4 August 2009 The Queen has approved the appointment of a rural evangelist as the next Bishop of Shrewsbury. Read More »   New bishop calls for obligatory SmartWater checks 4 August 2009 The next Bishop of Shrewsbury has said all scrap metal dealers should be obliged to check for SmartWater as a condition of their licence. Read More »   MPs expenses: when ‘hold to account’ became ‘ritual humiliation’ 2 August 2009 As the MPs expenses scandal continues to rumble on, a Church of England bishop has criticised the ‘drip drip’ of leaked revelations as ‘an invitation to participate in a ritual humiliation.’ Read More »   Diocese repossesses vicarage in West Bromwich 22 July 2009 The former vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John, in West Bromwich, has this afternoon handed possession of the vicarage to officers acting for the Bishops of Lichfield and Wolverhampton and the Archdeacon of Walsall. Read More »   Walsall Church prepares for £1 million church room development 11 July 2009 A Walsall church, which is one of the fastest growing churches in the Diocese of Lichfield, has published plans for new £1 million church rooms to replace a crumbling temporary classroom constructed in 1948. Read More »   Bishop laments “Catastrophic breakdown of trust in society” 10 July 2009 - “children need friends in reality and not just on a computer screen” says Bishop of Lichfield Read More »   Tributes paid to church stalwarts 10 July 2009 Tributes have been paid to three senior members of the Diocese of Lichfield who are retiring after a combined 48 years service. Read More »   Diocese of Lichfield set to weather financial storm 7 July 2009 The Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance is in a good position to weather the financial storm; according to finance director Jonathan Hill Read More »   Stabbing incident at Blue Coat CofE (A) Comprehensive School, Walsall 30 June 2009 A 14 year old boy has been taken to hospital with minor injuries, and another 14 year old boy has been arrested by police after a stabbing incident at Blue Coat Church of England (VA) Comprehensive School in Walsall yesterday. Read More »   “Occasional church attendees are not hypocrites” - bishop 30 June 2009 A Church of England bishop has defended people who go to church only occasionally, and insisted they are not hypocrites. Read More »   Jerome K Jerome inspires church leaders’ Black Country boat ride 30 June 2009 Two archdeacons and a bishop will follow in the footsteps - or paddles - of Walsall’s most famous son when the three take a boat ride across south Staffordshire and the Black Country next week to celebrate church growth in the area. Read More »   Black Country church offers 'Apprentice Vicar' job 29 June 2009 A West Bromwich church is looking for an apprentice to work alongside the vicar for one or two years and find out more about what it means to serve as a minister in the Church of England. Read More »   Walsall’s next Archdeacon speaks of new post 28 June 2009 The next Archdeacon of Walsall has spoken of his joy at being appointed to the Bishop of Lichfield’s senior staff team. Read More »   Vicar of Shrewsbury Abbey to be next Archdeacon of Walsall 28 June 2009 Chaplain of Shrewsbury Town FC set to move to Black Country Read More »   50 new clergy for Lichfield Diocese 25 June 2009 Petertide ordinations sees 118 new clergy across the West Midlands region Read More »   Diocese granted possession of Vicarage 23 June 2009 The Bishops of Lichfield and Wolverhampton and the Archdeacon of Walsall have today been given an order for the possession of a West Bromwich vicarage. Read More »   Stoke church consults on reusing burial space 16 June 2009 A Stoke-on-Trent church is consulting local residents over a proposal to re-use parts of its churchyard for new burials. Read More »   “Make ‘goodness’ attractive”, urges bishop 5 June 2009 The Bishop of Stafford has said one of humanity’s biggest challenges is to “make being good attractive”. The Rt Revd Gordon Mursell says “being bad” is seen as “cool”; while “being good” is seen as “boring”. Read More »   Bishops ask voters to put aside anger and vote positively 24 May 2009 The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have today issued a call for voters not toallow their anger over MPs expenses to translate into a wider disillusionment with the democratic process Read More »   Wolverhampton Church Celebrates 150 Years as “Vicar Factory” 19 May 2009 A Wolverhampton church, whose congregation has produced a large number of clergy, is celebrating its 150th anniversary Read More »   College of Evangelists marks top ten years of spreading the word 19 May 2009 Four Christian leaders are preparing to join the College of Evangelists, a collective of modern-day missionaries gifted at helping others discover a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Read More »   Diocese of Lichfield appoints new chief executive 19 May 2009 - David Taylor steps down after 20 years service Read More »   Bells to ring out after decades of silence 19 May 2009 An historic set of church bells which have languished silently in a dilapidated redundant church in Hanley, Stoke on Trent, for the past 20 years are to ring out again. Read More »   New Rector appointed for Central Wolverhampton 17 May 2009 A new Rector has been appointed for the parish of Central Wolverhampton – nine months after the sudden resignation of David Frith at the end of August 2008. Read More »   Bishops Urge West Midlanders to Vote Wisely 17 May 2009 Eleven Anglican bishops from across the West Midlands have encouraged their church members to vote in the forthcoming European Elections on 4th June Read More »   Bishop responds to MPs Expenses Scandal 17 May 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield has responded to the MPs expenses scandal by saying some MPs should be sacked Read More »   One moment, one question, one aim: half a million people to be invited ‘Back to Church’ 12 May 2009 Churchgoers across the Church of England are set personally to invite up to half a million people to services on Back to Church Sunday, making it one of the largest co-ordinated evangelism events in recent history Read More »   Archdeacon of Walsall retires to focus on church growth 30 April 2009 The Archdeacon of Walsall, one of the most senior clergy members of the Diocese of Lichfield, is to retire to become a freelance church growth consultant. Read More »   BNP Activist evicted from Cathedral precincts 21 April 2009 A BNP activist has been moved on from the precincts of Lichfield Cathedral while he was attempting to take a photograph with the cathedral as a backdrop to a BNP advertising poster. Read More »   Lichfield Diocese powers website by renewable energy 14 April 2009 The Diocese of Lichfield is furthering its pro-environment agenda by moving its website to a new green hosting facility. Read More »   Church of England Bishop supports proposed changes to Monarchy 28 March 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield has today welcomed proposed changes to the Act of Settlement Read More »   Full text of Presidential Address to Lichfield Diocesan Synod 28 March 2009 Speech by the Bishop of Lichfield Read More »   Project offers new start and fresh beginnings for prisoners 26 March 2009 An innovative partnership between the church and prison service, designed to prevent re-offending has been launched today at Shrewsbury Prison. Read More »   Project aims to keep prisoners away from crime 26 March 2009 by Joy Roxborough for the Lichfield News Service Read More »   Priests should be ‘released from overload’ 28 February 2009 Clergy and parishes should work together to release priests from the overload of parish life and enable them to work more effectively using the gifts and talents God has given them - that’s the message from the new director of ministry development. Read More »   Bishop launches Lent Appeal for elderly groups 24 February 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield has launched his 2009 Lent Appeal with an acknowledgement that it comes at a time when most people have to tighten their belts. Read More »   Diocese of Lichfield doubles Fairtrade churches - but more action needed 23 February 2009 The number of local churches in the Diocese of Lichfield to have achieved Fairtrade Status has increased by more than 100 per cent since its Diocesan Synod issued a challenge last October. Read More »   “Stand up for the Christian Faith against Political Correctness” - Synod member 12 February 2009 A Lichfield Diocesan lay member of the General Synod has used a debate about inter-faith presence and engagement to call on the government to stand up for the Christian faith. Read More »   Synod hears stirring testimony from former Buddhist 11 February 2009 A north Staffordshire Christian has told the General Synod how he converted to Christianity from Chinese folk religion. Read More »   Synod votes in favour of Women Bishops legislation 11 February 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield and his adviser for women in ministry have both spoken in this morning’s General Synod debate on new legislation, drawn up by a group chaired by the Bishop of Manchester, to allow women to become bishops in the Church of England. Read More »   Archdeacon supports free funerals for children 11 February 2009 The Archdeacon of Salop, the Ven John Hall, has voiced his support for new plans to remove fees for Church of England funerals for children under the age of 16. Read More »   “Wacky ideas” needed to solve financial crisis 11 February 2009 The time has come to consider “wacky ideas” to solve the financial crisis, according to a Lichfield diocesan lay member of the General Synod. Read More »   Shrewsbury vicar speaks of ‘hunger’ for church unity 10 February 2009 The vicar of a town centre church in Shrewsbury has spoken of his hunger for unity between the different Christian churches during a debate at the General Synod. Read More »   Vicars seek better conditions for C-of-E youth workers 10 February 2009 Two priests in the Diocese of Lichfield have called for improved conditions for Church of England youth workers, and official guidance to help parishes in the employment process. Read More »   St Albans tenth Bishop greets the Diocese in person and on You Tube 13 January 2009 The tenth Bishop of St Albans is to be the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, Downing Street has announced this morning. Read More »   Tributes as Bishop of Shrewsbury prepares to move to St Albans 13 January 2009 Senior Church of England clergy in the Diocese of Lichfield have paid tribute to the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, who was named this morning by Downing Street as the new Bishop of St Albans. Read More »   Bishop of Shrewsbury excited about his move to St Albans 13 January 2009 The Bishop of Shrewsbury has spoken of his mixed emotions following the announcement this morning that he is to be the next Bishop of St Albans. Read More »   10 Downing Street: Diocese of St Albans 13 January 2009 The Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Alan Gregory Clayton Smith, Area Bishop of Shrewsbury, for election as Bishop of St Albans Read More »   Bishop’s YouTube message: “Let us pray” 11 January 2009 The Bishop of Lichfield has used a video message to his congregations and on YouTube to encourage Christians to pray Read More »   The full text of the Bishop of Lichfield's Epiphany Message 11 January 2009 The Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill's annual video message to congregations in the diocese Read More »   Text of a Sermon by the Bishop of Lichfield at St Giles the Abbot, Cheadle 11 January 2009 The service, which marked the 170th anniversary of the present church building, was broadcast live on BBC Radio Stoke Read More »   View News Articles for: 2008