19 new lay ministers commissioned

Readers

Nineteen people from across the Midlands were commissioned as lay ministers by The Bishop of Lichfield at a special service on Saturday (4 September).

The new ministers will take up roles as Readers in church communities across the Diocese of Lichfield which covers Staffordshire, most of Shropshire and the Black Country.

They were admitted to office by The Right Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave at a special service at Lichfield Cathedral.

Readers are lay people who have been selected, trained and licensed by the Church of England to teach the faith, enable mission and to be leaders in church and in society. Working together with clergy colleagues they play their part in encouraging the whole people of God to grow in confidence in proclaiming God’s kingdom.

The Revd Canon Liz Shercliff, Director of Studies for Readers in the Diocese of Chester, preached at the service, which was the first of its kind since 2019 due to the Covid pandemic.

Bishop Michael said: “Readers are a vital part of the ministry of the whole people of God so it was excellent to be able to admit these 19 lay people into new areas of ministry.

“They have had to be particularly resilient because of the disruption to their training – and their parishes – caused by the pandemic. This will stand them in good stead as they play key roles in serving their churches and communities to bring hope in the changing landscape we find ourselves in.” 

Photos from Saturday’s service can be viewed on our Flickr page.

Lichfield Diocese has a strong history of supporting and equipping lay ministry. Learn more about vocation here at or email Helen Scheven.

Those licensed were:

Wolverhampton Episcopal Area

Steven Croft to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of The Peel Parishes

Anne Grace to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Aldridge

Christopher Hawthorne to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Burntwood, Chase Terrace, Chasetown and Hammerwich

Debbie Parkes to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Pleck and Bescot

Angela Partoon to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Bloxwich

Andrea Treadwell to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Tamworth

Clare Whitney to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Central Wolverhampton

 

Stafford Episcopal Area

Alexandra Baines to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Cotes Heath and Standon and Swynnerton with Tittensor

Henry Birtley to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Berkswich

Ann Deavall to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Betley and the benefice of Madeley

Nicholas Deavall to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Betley and the benefice of Madeley

Yvonne Denby to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Rocester, Denstone and Croxden with Hollington

Bettina Henderson to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Adbaston, High Offley, Knightley, Norbury, Woodseaves, Gnosall and Moreton

Jocelyn Podmore to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Caverswall and Weston Coyney with Dilhorne

Susan Thomas to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Trentham

Christina Thomson to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Stafford S.John the Baptist and Tixall with Ingestre.

 

Shewsbury Episcopal Area

Thomas Currie to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of The Deanery of Wrockwardine

Kerry Debenham to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Oakengates, Priors Lee and Wrockwardine Wood

Edward Loewendahl to be licensed as a Reader in the benefice of Newport with Longford, and Chetwynd

 

All photos by Christina Lynn.

Published: 6th September 2021
Page last updated: Monday 6th September 2021 10:44 AM
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