Churchyard Awards celebrate together
Judges and the judged met last Saturday to celebrate the Churchyard Awards' 2025 crop of care for community and creation.
News
Revd Joe /Can/ write a musical!
The life of St Paul and themes of redemption are the focus of a prison-inspired musical by Uttoxeter vicar, Revd Joe Cant that receives its world premier in the Staffordshire Moorlands this weekend.
Bishop Michael welcomes new Archbishop of Canterbury
Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, currently Bishop of London, nominated as 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Read the comment of the Bishop of Lichfield made immediately after the announcement.
Black History Month celebrations
Professor Robert Beckford will headline at two Black History Month events organised by the diocese's GMH/UKME Ministers Network and partners at Queens Theological Foundation.
Forty years still at the wicket
Staff gathered to mark a significant milestone for the second-longest serving member of staff.
Signs of growth? In Autumn?
Record numbers of people are beginning training for ministry this autumn. Seven were licensed as Lay Ministers last weekend, many graduates from the Chad Foundations course which sees an unprecedented 39 begin this month. And 18 potential clergy also begin ordination training this month.
Beginning and ending of life concerns
A slightly abridged version of Bishop Michael’s Presidential Address to July 2025’s Diocesan Synod
Revd Laura Lenander to lead Telford Minster in future
Once legal steps are completed, the Bishop of Lichfield has announced that he intends to appoint the Revd Laura Lenander as Leader of Telford Minster
Hole i' ones
Prizes for Lichfield DIocese' golf team as the annual inter-diocesan heads for the nineteenth.
Road to Gold Eco Award through closed churchyard
On the way to gaining an Arocha Gold Eco Church award a Shropshire church may have struck more than one ‘pot of gold’. Oxon Parish Church, Shrewsbury, has been awarded ARocha’s 99th and Lichfield Diocese’s second Gold Eco Church Award.
30th Anniversary of the Ordination of Female Priests
Lichfield Cathedral hosted Lichfield Diocese's celebration of the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women as priests. Here is the Bishop of Shrewsbury's sermon.
Blue Coat Primary, Walsall, opens its SEN Ark
The Blue Coat Infant and Junior schools, Walsall opened its own Special Educational Needs (SEN) unit, The Ark. Bishop Tim and Dorothy Buchanan MBE, a distinguished former Blue Coat Governor cut the (blue!) ribbon together to open The Ark.
Bishop Sarah's sabbatical
Bishop Sarah has been offered a sabbatical by Bishop Michael and has accepted. She will be away from 1 October 2025 to 12 January 2026. Here is more information and whom to contact during that time.
New deacons: how they were called
Our eight new deacons for 2025, ordained on 28 June, look back at how they were called and offer pointers to those who think ordination (or another calling) might be for them.
Next Steps: Living in Love and Faith
Following a discussion at May’s Bishop’s Council, this statement provides an update about the informal discussions in July’s Diocesan Synod requested by the National LLF team and the appointment of a new LLF Champion to offer support to parishes. The discussions will not go ahead in July and their form or whether they are scheduled for November’s Synod will be considered with input from the new LLF Champion.
The Revd Phillip Johnson to be new DAC Chair
The vicar of Eccleshall brings a broad palette of skills and experience to the 'planning permission' part of caring for church buildings.
Clergy pensions: proposals for enhancement
Church of England Pensions Board Investments has made known proposals for significant improvements to the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (CEPFS). If implemented, they will represent a significant step forward.
House of Bishops statement on Gaza
This morning, the House of Bishops agreed and published the following statement about the situation in Gaza:
The Revd Preb John Baines RIP
Bishop Michael was sorry to learn of the sudden and unexpected death in service of the Revd Preb John Baines and has written a brief tribute.
Key appointment moves Church’s Stoke Revitalisation into next phase
An experienced youth worker, now trained and ordained, is to take up the second of two key roles in Lichfield Diocese’s £5.9m project to start a new chapter in the church’s story in Stoke on Trent. The Revd Alan Gault, currently Planting Curate at St Luke’s, Blackburn will become Stoke’s Resource Church Leader based at All Saints Joiners Square.
Pope Francis RIP
On learning of the death of Pope Francis, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has made a statement.
Assistant Archdeacons of Lichfield Appointed
Bishop Michael has appointed two Assistant Archdeacons of Lichfield. They will take up these temporary roles from Wednesday 26th March.
Seeking the Kingdom - on foot
From 3 - 12 April, as part of his Lenten Observance, Bishop Michael will be walking though all four archdeaconries of Lichfield Diocese. On each of these ten days he will stop in the evening to join a parish for prayer and Bible study. He will take as his subject one of the ten goals in the Diocesan Strategy, ‘Seeking the Kingdom’ on each day.
1700+ Church: One Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Lichfield Cathedral's Lent Course is available online, week, starting on Ash Wednesday with Bishop Michael.
Silver Eco Award for Lichfield Diocese’s Offices
Following an exhaustive process, including an assessment of direct and indirect emissions, St Mary’s House, Lichfield Diocese's offices in The Close, Lichfield has been awarded environmental charity ARocha’s Silver Eco Award.
Spirit of St of Chad lives on in medal recipients
The significant contributions that seven people have made to their communities and the diocese were recognised on Sunday at a special service of Evensong in the cathedral where Bishop Michael presented them with the St Chad Medal.
Conclusion of the Makin Review Four-Step Process
The Church of England's National Safeguarding Team has today announced the conclusion of the work to review all clergy under the authority or oversight of the Church of England who are criticised in the Makin review, published in November
Interim Directors appointed
The West Midlands Racial Justice initiative has announced the appointment of The Revd. Canon Douglas Machiridza and The Revd. Dr. Sarah Hayes as its new interim Co-Directors, following the departure of The Revd. Dr. Evie Vernon at the end of last year.
Diocese’s new CEO is ‘inspired appointment’, bringing banking and church wisdom
The next Chief Executive Officer of Lichfield Diocese is to be Mrs Sam Rushton, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has announced. After a career in retail banking and most recently, in the leadership team of the Diocese of York, she brings to Lichfield the skills that will help maintain and develop the culture of teamworking and collaboration among diocesan staff and structures.
Appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury: Public Consultation
The process for the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury is underway and, a key part of this is the extensive consultation exercise that will close on 31 March. Wherever you are based, your views matter.
