The Church of England in the West Midlands has marked a milestone with the inaugural meeting of its Racial Justice Board earlier this month. This pivotal gathering united representatives from Birmingham, Coventry, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, and Worcester to address racism and champion racial justice within the Church, society, and our communities.
Canon Nick Smeeton has been appointed to the role of Strategic Programmes Director for the Diocese of Lichfield. This is a new and crucial role for our diocese and is funded by the national church, designed to bring life and detail to the implementation of the new strategic framework recently agreed by our Diocesan Synod.
Maybe you have a great idea for how your parish church could connect more with its local community, but you don’t know how to make this vision a reality?
For Dementia Action Week 13–19 May 2024
Across our Dementia-friendly Churches Network, what's working? What's helpful? What's important? A report from Staffordshire University helps us take stock.
In a fretful, lonely and competitive digital world, your church, with all its grace and messiness, joys and frustrations, can be a place of hope and peace for the anxious generation.
The Revd Dr Evie Vernon O’Brien has been appointed as the Racial Justice Director for the Church of England in the West Midlands. Evie will take up her role in July working with six dioceses – Birmingham, Coventry, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, and Worcester. It is the first collaborative project of its kind in the Church of England.
24th April 2024
On 23 April Lichfield Cathedral hosted a Songs of Praise for people impacted by dementia with special guests Tony Christie and Lichfield Catheral Choristers.
So often diocesan synods are perceived as boring, dry and bureaucratic. This should not be the case! Rather they should exist to serve the mission of the wider Church, to make strategic decisions, and to encourage the growth of mission and ministry in our diocese.
Lichfield Diocese was well represented at the second Intercultural Church conference, hosted this year by Bishop Martyn Snow in Leicester Diocese just before Easter.
After the furore of Holy Week, the joy of Easter Day many will have been out and about, avoiding pranks on 1 April, bank holiday Monday. Bishop Sarah gets away and stays connected
The warmth of the atmosphere is what struck me first and foremost as I arrived at Time Together, run by Churches Together in Whitchurch at Bargates Hall beside St Alkmund’s Church. St Alkmund’s has had a dementia-friendly church Certificate since 2018.
The 'TikTok Vicar' from Aldridge, Revd David Sims was one of a select group of content creators invited to the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday to join an Easter Roundtable highlighting Christian voices on the platform.
The church sometimes known as 'the Potters' Cathedral' is in the midst of £2million repair work. The Lord Mayor of Stoke and the Bishop of Stafford were among those who recently climbed to the top of the scaffolding around the tower to look at the recent repairs and admire the view of the city.
Four weeks into Lent, Clare Whitney sees in the saints of old the roots of good Christian habits and principles for ministry resulting from them asking ‘What is it Lord, that you have called me to do?’
Bishop Michael writes with regard to the Bishop of Wolverhampton and Archdeacon of Walsall
This February's General Synod meeting in London was held over a weekend - part of an attempt to balance the meetings to aid lay members, many of whom have to take holiday from employers in order to attend.
1st March 2024
Years of loyal service to parishes, schools and diocese were recognised last night when six medals were presented during a special service of evensong at Lichfield Cathedral with a further two to be presented at a future date.
In the Chad Blog at the start of Lent, Jonathan Hill, Lichfield Diocese’s Director of Finance contemplates an alternative understanding of ‘giving up for Lent’
Pupils from two diocesan secondary schools helped the Archbishop of Canterbury launch a youth version of the Difference course last week.
The Archdeacon of Walsall, The Venerable Julian Francis, has announced that he is retiring from stipendiary ministry this spring. His last working day will be Wednesday 8th May 2024.
A Shropshire curate and her husband are celebrating after winning on the BBC gameshow Pointless.
Telford Minster's worship leader, Harry Thomas Warrell has released a single. 'All Eyes On King Jesus' is the first track from Harry's latest project 'Stumbling Days'.
Bishop Matthew has indigestion as we approach the start of Lent
Rushall Parish Church is celebrating after being awarded the Gold standard in the Eco Awards, the highest award in the ARocha scheme and the first in the diocese.
On the first Sunday of Advent, Isaiah’s words rip through the air and his prophecy will continue to thunder around us Sunday by Sunday. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus cries ‘Keep Awake!’ and we hear his passion for this world to flourish and for his followers to take their place on the side of hope.
To mark the beginning of Advent and a new year in the Church calendar, Hanley parish, Stoke-on-Trent, hosted a very special, collaborative reading of Mark’s Gospel.
