Lichfield Diocese is helping churchwardens, PCCs and congregations alike through the sometimes daunting time of vacancy, helping more of them to discover that it can also be a time of growth, opportunity and renewed confidence. Vacancy is a season in the life of every parish and Lichfield Diocese is working to make every season better. 
The diocese’s new vacancy support programme provides timely practical and missional support through bringing experienced and encouraging Vacancy Support Officers alongside, help with telling the parishes story well in the parish profile, support with sustaining and developing church-school relationships and meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by caring for a church building in a vacancy. The programme is funded by the Benefact Trust.
Revd Canon Nick Smeeton, Strategy Programme Director, said: “The first step to improving something is acknowledging where the challenges lie. In launching the Vacancy Support Programme, we have taken a hard look at where we can address those challemnges and hope to make a real difference, helping more parishes to find growth, opportunity and renewed confidence in vacancy. Our hope is to make that journey as easy as possible, for as many as we can, ready for a new appointee. The support of the Benefact Trust makes this an offer, for a time, to parishes on a truly no-cost basis.”
A parish has already received support with a parish profile.
Vacancy Support Officers
Lichfield Diocese is recruiting a number of Vacancy Support Officers, seeking applications from amongst its recently retired clergy and experienced lay leaders. They will come alongside parishes in vacancy, offering wisdom and encouragement born of long experience.
VSOs will typically spend six half-day sessions with a parish over three to six months, helping local leaders navigate unfamiliar challenges, sustain mission, and see vacancy as a season of possibility rather than decline. They will also be part of a diocesan-wide network of prayer, sharing and mutual encouragement.
Parish Profiles – telling your story well
One of the first tasks of the appointment process is creating a parish profile – the document that introduces your church and community to prospective applicants. Done well, it’s a chance to tell your story with clarity and honesty, showing what makes your parish distinctive while being realistic about the challenges.
The Vacancy Support Programme provides help with this process: PCCs will be offered a dedicated staff member at St Mary’s House who will guide them through drafting and shaping their profile. Templates and design support from the diocesan Communications Team will ensure that every profile is attractive, consistent, and rooted in our diocesan vision, while still reflecting the unique identity of each parish. This not only eases the administrative load on local leaders but also makes our vacancies more appealing to potential candidates.
Church–School Relationships – building bridges in a key season
Vacancy is also a pivotal moment in the relationship between parishes and their local schools. Positive connections can be strengthened, and where relationships have been more challenging, there is often a fresh opportunity to reset and rebuild.
Working with our team of Christian Distinctiveness Advisers (CDAs), the programme will support parishes to maintain healthy church–school partnerships throughout vacancy. CDAs will help identify opportunities for collaboration, support worship in schools, and ensure children and families continue to experience the love and presence of the church during this time of change. In some cases, a CDA may work directly with a parish to shape a plan for sustaining and developing the school relationship until a new appointment is made.
Church Buildings – opportunities as well as challenges
We know that church buildings can be both a blessing and a burden, especially during vacancy. They are often the heart of community life, but their upkeep can feel overwhelming without clergy leadership.
The Vacancy Support Programme recognises this tension. VSOs and diocesan colleagues will help PCCs think creatively about their buildings during vacancy – from practical advice on maintenance and accessibility, to exploring how buildings can be used more missionally and sustainably. This support will enable parishes not just to “manage” their buildings, but to see them as opportunities for welcome, hospitality and witness in the community, even during a season of transition.
Fully Grant Funded
Thanks to the Benefact Trust, this programme is fully funded for two years. That means parishes receive this support at no extra cost, while the Diocese gathers valuable evidence of what works best in supporting churches through vacancy.
Get Involved
We are now recruiting Vacancy Support Officers to serve across the diocese (see our 'job ad' here). If you are a recently retired priest or experienced lay leader with a heart for encouraging churches, we’d love to hear from you. There is a modest sessional payment (£100). Email Helen Scheven