News

Bishop Michael meets Telford Street Pastors

Published: 29th November 2016

The Bishop of Lichfield met volunteers who offer late-night support to people on the streets of Telford on a visit to the town.

Bishops join Synagogue Celebrations

Published: 28th November 2016

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent's only synagogue was joined for its tenth anniversary celebrations by the Bishops of Lichfield and Stafford.

Bishop Clive and Adrian Chiles open YMCA

Published: 22nd November 2016

Celebrity TV presenter Adrian Chiles and the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Right Revd Clive Gregory, joined forces to officially open the new YMCA Black Country Group Western Gateway building in Carters Green, West Bromwich.

Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries Wins National Award

Published: 18th November 2016

A ground-breaking church initiative in Wolverhampton city centre has won a national award for its work with young adults.

Enabling Church to Serve Beyond Limits

Published: 17th November 2016

The Bishop of Lichfield and Shropshire curate Revd Zoe Heming shared the platform at a national event to help create churches where disabled people belong.

TGI Monday Wins National Award

Published: 14th November 2016

An innovative weekly online chat show from the Diocese of Lichfield has won a national digital award.

Praying for Unity in Inter Faith Week

Published: 11th November 2016

People from all faith groups and none are being invited to a show of unity at Stoke-on-Trent College on Tuesday, 15 November.

Readers toast 150 years of service

Published: 7th November 2016

Almost 200 Readers from across Lichfield Diocese took part in 150th anniversary celebrations of lay ministry at a special service at Lichfield Cathedral.

A Mercian Diocese

Published: 7th November 2016

"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.

BAME vocations celebration

Published: 21st October 2016

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.

TGI Monday shortlisted in national Premier Digital Awards

Published: 5th October 2016

TGI Monday has been shortlisted for a Premier Digital Award for 'Most Creative Use of Social Media'.

Diocese-wide support for Dementia Friendly Churches

Published: 28th September 2016

A pilot project to help churches provide dementia-friendly services and meetings in northern Shropshire is being expanded and rolled out across the rest of the Diocese.

Bishop speaks out on need to address antisemitism

Published: 28th September 2016

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.'

People flock to churches and towpaths

Published: 23rd September 2016

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'

New Prebendaries named

Published: 12th September 2016

Three new Prebendaries will be installed in Lichfield Cathedral during Evensong on Sunday 13 November.

The start of Bishop Michael's ministry in Lichfield Diocese

Published: 21st July 2016

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.

Diocese of Lichfield praised by independent safeguarding Audit

Published: 27th June 2016

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.'

MBE for Lichfield Prison Chaplain

Published: 11th June 2016

A 15-year ministry as a prison chaplain and voluntary work spanning many years has been recognized by the Queen today in her birthday honours, with the award of an MBE to Jane Newsome. Jane, who served almost all her ministry in the diocese of Lichfield, first as prison chaplain at Stoke Heath Prison, where she was co-ordinating chaplain and then as Managing Chaplain of Swinfen Hall. Both were young offenders' institutions for young men.

Welcome Bishop Michael - in pictures

Published: 3rd March 2016

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

Learning to dream again

Published: 9th January 2016

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.

Neighbouring Course

Published: 14th May 2015

What would it mean if we took seriously 'loving our neighbours?

New support for young adults, Fresh Expressions and pioneer ministry

Published: 16th April 2015

The Revd David Cundill was welcomed to the Diocese this week as the new Deputy Director of Mission. He will work with parishes and pioneer ministers with a particular focus on supporting work under the Diocese's Reaching New Generations theme, particularly with reaching the 19-35 age group and Fresh Expressions.

Holy Week meditations

Published: 27th March 2015

A pioneering church community in Wolverhampton has recorded the St Chad's Community's special daily prayer material for Easter and Holy Week for its own congregation of young adults.

Church and Kirche

Published: 4th December 2014

There was cause for celebration at Lichfield Cathedral on Saturday as the partnership covenant between the Diocese of Lichfield and the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland was signed for a fourth five-year term.

Honour among Chaplains as well as Parish Priests

Published: 7th November 2014

The Bishop of Lichfield has today announced the names of six diocesan clergy who will be honoured with the title Prebendary.

Birches Head Memorial Window

Published: 6th November 2014

Frank McGregor is no stranger to putting big art in the service of God. But the St Matthew's memorial is among the biggest commemorative art projects ever attempted.

Rescuing the children

Published: 24th October 2014

'Dilan dropped in at Sanctus a few weeks ago, just a lady in a distraught state'. Revd Sally Smith is used to welcoming new faces to Sanctus, a support group for refugees at St Mark's in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent. But this new face was to prompt Sally to jump on a flight and journey hundreds of miles across Bulgaria. 'Dilan is a Kurdish Syrian. Her husband was killed by government forces, and she has five children, aged between three and fifteen. They fled as refugees into Turkey, and then onto Bulgaria, where they were processed in Harmanli refugee camp.'