News

Rescuing the children

'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.'

New Revs Ordained

There were great celebrations this weekend as twenty-two new Reverends were ordained in Lichfield Cathedral.

First Archdeacon of Lichfield dies

The Venerable Richard Ninis, the first Archdeacon of Lichfield has died.

Enabling Churches Conference Resounding Success

"The Enabling Churches conference held in the diocese was a resounding success" says Bishop Clive Gregory.

Preaching workshop

"Without doubt, the best organised and delivered, and most relevant workshop I have ever attended".

Local vicar, Revd Preb Pat Hawkins to be new Canon of Lichfield Cathedral

Lichfield Cathedral has appointed a new Canon for Pastoral Development and Mission.

Like Son, Like Father

It's not unusual to find married couples who follow each other along the path to ordination, but this June was a joyful time for the Merry family.

Birches Head Memorial Window

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.

10 million rely on church community support shows new research

New research conducted for the Church Urban Fund, CUF, shows that 10 million adults a year in England use community services from churches.

Learning to dream again

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.

Holy Week meditations

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.

Diocese of Lichfield praised by independent safeguarding Audit

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.'

New support for young adults, Fresh Expressions and pioneer ministry

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.