Bishop Michael is pleased to announce that the Revd Preb Pat Hawkins has accepted his invitation to become the new Chair of the Lichfield Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC).
The DAC is a statutory body which provides advice and guidance to parishes on the conservation, alteration, and appropriate development of church buildings and churchyards.
Pat, vicar of Ellesmere in North Shropshire, was DAC Vice Chair in 2012-13 and Acting DAC Chair in 2013-14. She was nominated to re-join the current DAC as a member in January this year.
Pat said: "I am very happy to accept this role and to help take forward the work of the DAC, on which I served as a clergy member for a number of years prior to 2014. I will bring to the role a passion for the parochial ministry of the church and for exploring the missional potential of our heritage."
Pat moved to Ellesmere in 2020 after five years as a member of the clergy team at Lichfield Cathedral. Prior to that she spent ten years in Oxley, Wolverhampton following her curacy in Stafford, giving her valuable experience in all three episcopal areas in the diocese. She was also appointed as Chaplain to the Queen last year.
Pat succeeds the Revd Preb Simon Baker as Chair following his recent retirement.
The DAC members and advisers have a wide range of knowledge in a variety of specialist fields. As a body, the DAC offers informal advice to parishes on proposals in the early stages of development, and subsequently gives formal advice on faculty applications to the Diocesan Chancellor.
The DAC Chair is appointed by the Diocesan Bishop after consultation and is a voluntary post. A central function of the role is to oversee meetings of the DAC effectively and constructively, to ensure that fair and consistent recommendations are made to the Diocesan Chancellor on faculty applications.
Bishop Michael said: “Pat has a great deal of experience which will prove invaluable in this role. I am very appreciative of Pat’s wisdom and commitment to both the care of buildings and their use for mission, which will be of great benefit to the DAC and wider diocese.”
Pat will commence in role by chairing the 16 June DAC meeting.