An experienced youth worker, now trained and ordained, is to take up the second of two key roles in Lichfield Diocese’s £5.9m project to start a new chapter in the church’s story in Stoke on Trent. The Revd Alan Gault, currently Planting Curate at St Luke’s, Blackburn will become Stoke’s Resource Church Leader based at All Saints Joiners Square.
On learning of the death of Pope Francis, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has made a statement.
Bishop Michael has appointed two Assistant Archdeacons of Lichfield. They will take up these temporary roles from Wednesday 26th March.
From 3 - 12 April, as part of his Lenten Observance, Bishop Michael will be walking though all four archdeaconries of Lichfield Diocese. On each of these ten days he will stop in the evening to join a parish for prayer and Bible study. He will take as his subject one of the ten goals in the Diocesan Strategy, ‘Seeking the Kingdom’ on each day.
Lichfield Cathedral's Lent Course is available online, week, starting on Ash Wednesday with Bishop Michael.
Following an exhaustive process, including an assessment of direct and indirect emissions, St Mary’s House, Lichfield Diocese's offices in The Close, Lichfield has been awarded environmental charity ARocha’s Silver Eco Award.
The significant contributions that seven people have made to their communities and the diocese were recognised on Sunday at a special service of Evensong in the cathedral where Bishop Michael presented them with the St Chad Medal.
The Church of England's National Safeguarding Team has today announced the conclusion of the work to review all clergy under the authority or oversight of the Church of England who are criticised in the Makin review, published in November
The West Midlands Racial Justice initiative has announced the appointment of The Revd. Canon Douglas Machiridza and The Revd. Dr. Sarah Hayes as its new interim Co-Directors, following the departure of The Revd. Dr. Evie Vernon at the end of last year.
The next Chief Executive Officer of Lichfield Diocese is to be Mrs Sam Rushton, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has announced. After a career in retail banking and most recently, in the leadership team of the Diocese of York, she brings to Lichfield the skills that will help maintain and develop the culture of teamworking and collaboration among diocesan staff and structures.
The process for the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury is underway and, a key part of this is the extensive consultation exercise that will close on 31 March. Wherever you are based, your views matter.
We take all reports and allegations seriously. If you or anyone you are in contact with, want to talk to someone independently, you can call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or email safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk. There are other support services available.
Christ Church, Wellington welcomed Strengthening Communities to its early morning Place of Welcome to join in celebrating, with tea, toast and yes, a celebration cake, the 200 Places of Welcome supported by Lichfield Diocese.
Bishop Michael recognised ten people for their contribution to the life of Lichfield Diocese during Evensong at Lichfield Cathedral on Sunday, 26 January. Bishop Matthew gave the award of the Lambeth Cross for Ecumenism, awarded by the Archbishop of Canterbury to Robert Mountford, Ecumenical Officer for Birmingham, the Black Country and Staffordshire.
The Revd Canon Elizabeth Jackson is to be the next Archdeacon of Walsall and that the Revd Nick Watson is to be the next Archdeacon of Salop
Cathedral appointment supports Wednesbury parishes.
Christmas Message 2024 from the Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield
St Mary’s Church in Uttoxeter was one of just fifteen locations around the country chosen to host a royal carol service earlier this month. The services, supported by The Royal Foundation, complement The Princess of Wales’s ‘Together at Christmas’ service at Westminster Abbey, celebrating love, empathy and community spirt.
Uncertainty over a government grant scheme that has run for over twenty years and could end in weeks is threatening completion of more than £2m of repairs to a Hanley church.
Bishop Michael recently hosted the first Selwyn Lecture since before the Covid 19 pandemic, based around three perspectives on racial justice. The final one, offered by the Bishop of Lichfield, drew on his recent brief sabbatical in New Zealand which afforded him the opportunity to study the ministry of the Rt Revd George Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, and the 90th Bishop of Lichfield, after whom these lectures are named.
Staffordshire communities were at the heart of the largest explosion in the UK. And a link via a vicar's trainset.
Alex Wolvers, who currently works within the Education Team at Lichfield Diocese, will lead the work of ‘Encounter,’ the first of two key appointments planned in the seven-year programme to revitalise the Christian presence in Stoke on Trent funded by up to £5.9m by the Church of England.
The resignation of Archbishop Justin this week is a stark reminder of just how important our safeguarding practice and policy is in all our churches. The Lessons Learnt Review into the horrific abuse by the late John Smyth is a reminder of the lifelong effects on victims and survivors, and we pray for them.
The Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has received the news of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s resignation this afternoon with sorrow, acknowledging that the Archbishop has acted honourably in resigning.
Newly announced funding of up to £5.9 million (£5.1 million is conditional) from the Church of England will be spent by the Diocese of Lichfield on revitalising the Christian presence in Stoke on Trent, largely among younger communities across the city.
To the best of our knowledge none of John Smyth’s victims has come forward from within this diocese, but anyone at all who is affected by this news is encouraged to use the support services offered (click for contacts and the report).
Over two-hundred Places of Welcome are now supported by the Diocese of Lichfield across the Black Country, Staffordshire, Stoke-On-Trent and northern Shropshire - that’s one in four of the Places of Welcome within the national network created by Church Urban Fund and Near Neighbours across England and Wales.
The village of Ellastone in the Staffordshire Moorlands is celebrating this week as a partnership between the Diocese of Lichfield, local residents and businesses brings major benefits for the community with improvements to the village playing field.
The bishops of the diocese have written to clergy and Readers about the Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill, now before Parliament, unequivocally expressing their concerns about the Bill and setting out an alternative:
A new report from A Rocha shows aha a third of churches in the diocese are taking steps towards various Eco Church awards.
