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.