The district of Chadsmoor in Cannock, Staffordshire, has been given official status as a Church of England Parish and tonight (Wednesday) the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Clive Gregory, will consecrate St Aidan’s Church in West Chadsmoor as one of two Parish Churches for the new parish.

Since 1970 Chadsmoor was part of the Cannock Team Ministry but the new parish of Chadsmoor is part of a re-organisation of Churches in the town in which both Heath Hayes and Chadsmoor have become full parishes in their own right; while Cannock and Huntingdon have become another parish.

But while the parishioners have got a new parish and two parish churches; they will have to wait for a new Vicar as the Diocese of Lichfield is currently recruiting a priest to serve the new parish.

During tonight’s service the bishop will licence the Revd Kathryn Buck, previously Team Vicar in the Cannock Team with responsibility for Chadsmoor, as Associate Minister (Assistant Curate) in the new parish; a post she holds alongside her other role as the Associate Minister of Hednesford.

The church’s association with Chadsmoor dates back to the beginnings of the Diocese of Lichfield in the late 7th Century. At that stage it was moorland which the first Bishop of Lichfield, Saint Chad, walked preaching the gospel.

Looking ahead to tonight’s service, the Revd Kathryn Buck said: “This is a new chapter in the life of the Church in Chadsmoor; building on the foundations of Saint Chad and the Christian Church over the centuries. It is an opportunity for working together to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God in this place.”

The service of consecration is both legal and spiritual and begins outside the church, with the congregation inside, as the Church Warden asks the Bishop to consecrate the Church. The Bishop of Wolverhampton will then adorn the threshold, lintel, and other parts of the church with oil.

The service will take place at St Aidan’s Church, Albert Street, Broomhill in Cannock, beginning at 7.00pm.