People from all around the Diocese of Lichfield have been meeting the new bishop of Lichfield, Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave as he has toured the diocese and walked part of the Two Saints Way as part of his 'Season of Welcome'
"First and foremost I am a child of God" - a vital reminder to all of us, and a note-to-self for the new Bishop of Lichfield
Bishop Michael, who is Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews, has warmly welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury's words condemning the 'virus' of antisemitism. At a speech to the CCJ in Staines this week, Bishop Michael said, 'There is a fundamental truth that Jews and Christians hold in common: we are taught, and we believe, that men and women are made in the image of God.'
"The Diocese of Mercia, this diocese, is a borderland diocese. Living in borderlands is risky business; crossing boundaries generates anxiety; that is why we need a culture, locally of informed risk-taking, and centrally of thoughtful permission-giving. " So says +Michael in his first presidential address to Diocesan Synod.
Clergy Appointments, retirements and resignations this month
Over sixty people gathered in West Bromwich last night to hear about the ways people of black and minority ethnic groups can be encouraged to consider vocations in the Church of England.
"Whatever it is, DO something!!" That's what one teacher said to Helen Babiy from Willenhall when she was asked to help with an RE lesson. Never did she imagine it would result in becoming a Reader at her church, leading services, preaching and helping others discover their faith.
Just part of one of the workshop titles being offered at a special day for clergy, readers, worship leaders and all involved in services to explore how to make 'all age' worship truly all-age, and engaging in missional contexts or at services with a high proportion of 'un-churched' people.
St John's Lichfield is an ancient Almshouse that is continuing to flourish and expand. The distinctive Grade 1 listed Tudor brick building is now nationally famous for its chimneys, some of the first domestic chimneys in the West Midlands. It continues to expand, embracing the most energy-efficient innovative design of the twenty-first century.
Over this past bank holiday weekend, fifty teenagers from the Shrewsbury area took part in the annual event known as Soul Purpose. One of them, Andrew Farrow, reports.
It is with sadness that we announce the sudden death on 14 May of The Revd Keith Round, Vicar of St Werbergh's church in Burslem (Stoke-on-Trent) at the age of 67. It is believed he had a massive heart attack.
A new congregation to provide an opportunity for worship, mutual support and encouragement for Christians in the LGBTI community is being launched this summer.
The leaders of the Community of St Chad and diocesan officers have been getting excited by this book by Sam, Wells, vicar of St Martin in the Fields, central London, to the extent that the Bishop's Staff have caught the enthusiasm. Together, they are encouraging parishes to adopt the book as a shared Lent study experience across the diocese - see the video by Paul Thomas, Archdeacon of Salop.
Bishop Clive invites: "It is with joy and anticipation that I invite you to the Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, March 24, at 11.00 a.m. The service will provide us all, lay and ordained, with an opportunity to renew our commitment to the Lord's service, as well as to receive oils blessed for use in our parishes.
An independent audit of the safeguarding arrangements in the Church of England has commended the Diocese of Lichfield, saying 'The Diocese of Lichfield maintains an impressive openness and willingness to learn in the area of safeguarding. People have a genuine commitment to getting it right and the attitude to the audit was characterised by openness and a lack of defensiveness - everyone to whom the auditors spoke was both keen to learn and improve.'
This month's Bishop's Wolverhampton Area Lecture was given by Canon Mark Oakley, chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, London.
The bishops of Lichfield Diocese have written a joint letter to be read to parishes in the wake of last week's referendum.
The Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave has been named as the new Bishop of Lichfield.
Following the announcement of Bishop Michael's appointment on the 10 Downing Street website yesterday morning, Bishop Michael made a whistle-stop tour of the diocese, ending at the St Chad's Day celebration at Lichfield Cathedral
Fr Ron Farrell enthuses about funeral ministry as a vital part of the life and mission of the Church
If you do just one thing online, it should be to ensure your A Church Near You site is up-to-date.
On Saturday 5th March up to 90 people at a time attended an event to mark the Licensing of the new Benefice of Burntwood, Chase Terrace, Chasetown and Hammerwich (known as the Burntwood Chase Team). Each church in turn held a part of the service, with some people going to all four.
New Fairtrade Coffee launched at Selwyn Study Day
Eleven new curates were ordained last Sunday in Lichfield Cathedral, marking the end of two or three years of training and the beginning of their parish ministry.
Image of Revd Ian Poole, vicar standing outside St Mary's church, Bushbury
St. Chad's Church in Shrewsbury has become the first church in the UK to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York signed the covenant in 2015 on behalf of the entire Church of England, but St Chad's is the first individual church to follow their lead.
One highlight of Her Majesty's ninetieth birthday celebrations this weekend is the The Patron's Lunch, a streetparty in the Mall on Sunday with 10,000 guests from the 600 charities and organisations of which the Queen is a Patron.
