Bishop Michael's 'Season of Welcome' begins on Thursday 15 September, culminating in his formal Installation and celebrating a Diocesan Eucharist on Saturday 24 September.
This page summarises the key elements and will be updated as further information arrives:
Nine days of prayer
during which +Michael will visit all corners of the Diocese and walk parts of the Two Saints Way.
Two services at Lichfield Cathedral.
Seating is limited, so below is info on attendance/ticketing, streaming of the services over the internet and suggestions for local celebrations.
Welcome of bishops and visitors from link Dioceses,
and the opportunity to welcome them at venues across our Diocese on Sunday September 25.
A3 posters summarising this were included in the Clergy Mailing, dispatched during w/c 18 July.
Single page summaries of each event suitable for printing and putting on church noticeboards are here.
Oswestry - Thursday 15th September
7.30pm; Holy Trinity, Roft Street, Oswestry,SY11 2ES
A Service of Word & Prayer for Diocese & Bishop followed by light refreshments
Contact: holytrinityoswestry@gmail.com
Parking at Central Car Park, 50m north of the church on the left, or see church website (www.holytrinityoswestry.org) for travel details.
Wellington - Friday 16th September
7.30pm; Christ Church, New Church Road, TF1 1JX
A Service of Prayer and Praise for Lichfield Diocese and Our New Bishop followed by Refreshments
Contact: The Revd Alastair Wood (01952 261010) but no need to let us know you are coming
Parking available in New College Car Park
Chesterton - Saturday 17th September
7.30pm; Holy Trinity Church Hall, Church Street, Chesterton ST5 7HJ
Prayer followedby Harvest Supper (Please let us know if you intend to come as space is limited)
Contact: The Revd Simon Boxall (01782 562479)
Car Park beside the Church Hall
Wolverhampton - Sunday 18th September
5.30pm All Saints Church, All Saints Road, WV2 1EL (postcode for SatNav is WV2 2AW)
Prayers & Reflection on supporting Mission on the Edge.The service will involve a shared meal provided by All Saints. Please let us know you are coming
Contact: wolvescentralparish@hotmail.co.uk or the Revd Sarah Schofield (07500 780494)In lieu of a contribution to the shared meal, please consider bringing a gift of chocolate bars or toiletries which All Saints can use in ministry amongst sex workers.*.Parking is limited. By public transport, The Royal Metro stop and bus 530 along Steelhouse Lane. Bicycles can be stored in church. There is ramped access to the main entrance but unfortunately the toilet is down two steps. There is an induction loop system in church.
*All Saints Road, WV2 1EL (postcode for SatNav is WV2 2AW). Parking is limited.
By public transport: The Royal Metro stop and bus 530 along Steelhouse Lane.
Bicycles can be stored in church.
There is ramped access to the main entrance but unfortunately the toilet is down two steps. There is an induction loop system in church.
Aldridge - Monday 19th September
7.45pm; Aldridge Church Centre, The Green, WS9 8NH
A Service of Praise and Prayer followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to meet Bishop Michael.
Everyone welcome but to ensure sufficient refreshments and due to space constraints please send numbers to johncoyne55@icloud.com .Contact: The Revd John Coyne (07929 627346)
Whitchurch - Tuesday 20th September
7.00pm; St Alkmunds Church, Whitchurch, SY13 1LB
A Service of Holy Communion (specially adapted) followed by refreshments
It would be helpful (but not essential) to know if you intend to come. If work commitments mean you may arrive late please do not be deterred you are still very welcome.
Contact: The Revd Judy Hunt (01948 667253 or rev.judy@btinternet.com )
On the following three days Bishop Michael and others will be walking part of the Two Saints Way. You are welcome to join for any part of this (and there is no need to book in) but please be aware of the need to maintain a steady pace! Details of each day's pilgrimage are here. * UPDATED 5 Sept *
Pilgrimage 1: Stoke to Stone
Newcastle under Lyme - Wednesday 21st September
7.30pm; St Pauls Church, Newcastle under Lyme*
A Eucharist for the Feast of St Matthew followed by Refreshments
Contact: (to follow)
*St Pauls Church, Victoria Road, postcode for SatNav ST5 1DB. This is the postcode of Newcastle under Lyme School, next to the church, where car parking is available.
Pilgrimage 2: Stone to Stafford
Gnosall - Thursday 22nd September
7.00pm; St Lawrence Church, Gnosall, ST20 0EP
A Service of Thanksgiving & Prayer for our Benefice, our Diocese and our Bishopfollowed by Refreshments
It would be helpful to know if you intend to come as we are combining the evening with the start of our weekend to celebrate the gifts of those in our church and community.
Contact: Bob Winfield bobwinfield@btinternet.com
Parking available in Sellman Street, the Grosvenor Centre and at Village Memorial Hall
Pilgrimage 3: Stafford to Lichfield
Lichfield - Friday 23rd September
5.30pm; St Chads Church, St Chads Road, Lichfield WS13 7ND
Renewal of Baptismal Vows at St Chads Well (in the churchyard)
An ecumenical service at which all are welcome
Disabled access (to follow)?
Contact: office@saintchads.org.uk
Parking (to follow)
7.00pm; Lichfield Cathedral
Vigil Service of the Holy Spirit seeking blessing and anointing of us all as we inaugurate the Bishop 's ministry.
Contact: 01543 306100 / enquiries@lichfield-cathedral.org
Disabled access: Yes, via West Door
Parking: Disabled parking in The Close by west door. All other in public car parks.
Services at Lichfield Cathedral.
There will be two services on Saturday September 24:
- Installation and Enthronement at 11.00
- Diocesan Eucharist at 15.30
Because of the limited capacity of Lichfield Cathedral, these will be ticket-only services: however, both will be streamed live over the internet, and it is hoped that deaneries may gather locally and join in the celebrations.
Ticketing
The Cathedral is carefully preparing an invitation list for the morning service which will include many civic, interfaith and ecumenical representatives; Bishop Michaels family, friends and colleagues from Southwark; and a significant number of people from the national church and wider Anglican communion. There will be a good representation from the Diocese too, with invitations to Prebendaries, Rural Deans, Deanery Lay Chairs and senior diocesan staff.
Bishop Michaels express wish for the afternoon is that the Diocesan Eucharist will be as encompassing and representative of the people of Lichfield Diocese as possible: all licensed lay and ordained ministers, a good representation of church officers and lay people including children, youth, different nationalities etc. He tasked the planning group to find a fair way of allocating tickets which will be distributed in due course.
The solution to finite seating in the cathedral is that every lay and ordained minister that holds the Bishops Licence will be invited, and each deanery will then be allocated a number of tickets (based on Church Attendance statistics) to distribute in a way that will allow a representative cross-section of all churches to attend, including children and young people. A regrettable consequence of the limited capacity of the cathedral is that we cannot include all wardens or PtO clergy automatically, but some may be part of the deanery allocation (see allocation table below).
The service will begin with a procession headed by a marching band, from the Cathedral School to the Cathedral via the city centre, carrying the deanery banners that were processed at Bishop Jonathans Goodness of God celebration and farewell. Each deanery will need to nominate two people from your allocation to participate in this procession. Tea & cake will be provided after each service to give
everyone a chance to meet +Michael.
Streaming and local Hub Celebrations
However, because we wish to enable as many people as possible to participate in the service,
CCTV will be in place (just as used for Ordination services but with more screens) allowing us
to stream the service live over the internet.
The Bishops and Dean are therefore keen that if possible each deanery or clusters of deaneries identify a suitable hub location where people can gather together from all the local churches, watch one or both services live on a big screen and share lunch and a time of fellowship. As a mark of celebration, the diocese will provide each hub with a small budget that can cover the costs of welcome and refreshments and an electronic copy of both service sheets that can be printed.
Rural Deans and Lay Chairs have been asked to to identify hub locations, either alone or with neighbouring deaneries by 12 July: Locations so far (2 August) confirmed include:
- Shifnal: St Andrew's
- Shrewsbury: Bayston Hill - Christ Church
- Stafford: Littleworth - St John's
- West Bromwich: YMCA's Cielo Shop, Carters Green
- Telford: Wrockwardine Wood - Holy Trinity
- Walsall: St Martin's
- Pelsall: St Michael's
- Tamworth: St George's Glascote
Guests from Link Dioceses
A good number of guests from our Link Dioceses and bishops that +Michael has become friends with in the course of his ministry will be in Lichfield for +Michael's installation.
Many of them will be available and delighted to explore this diocese and take part in services on the afternoon/evening of Sunday 25. Parishes that might like to renew acquaintancies or offer fresh hospitality should contact Michael Carding.