The Archdeacon of Worcester, the venerable Dr Joy Tetley, will end eight years of service to the diocese at the end of April this year.  Her final participation in the main Sunday services at the Cathedral will be on Easter Day (23 March 2008).  A service of farewell and thanksgiving for her ministry will take place in April. She is leaving to resume and develop a ministry involving theological research and writing, teaching and preaching and will be based in Oxford.

Archdeacon Joy said, “It has been an enormous privilege to serve as Archdeacon for these past eight years.  The post is an extremely varied and comprehensive one and, in all sorts of ways, Worcester diocese is a very attractive context in which to minister.  More than anything else, I shall miss the people among whom it has been an honour to serve.  However, I feel a strong conviction that God is now calling me to develop and explore afresh areas of ministry which have had a high profile in my previous roles but which inevitably have had to be curtailed in more recent times because of the many other demands of the Archdeacon’s post.  How exactly this will be worked out is not yet certain, so this is indeed embarking on an adventure of faith!”

Bishop John who will be enthroned on 1 March said, "so many people have spoken to me most warmly about Joy and it is clear that she has made a very significant contribution to the life of the diocese.  I am sorry that I shall not have the opportunity to work with her for long but pray for God’s blessing upon her as she makes this important new step in her Christian pilgrimage."

Bishop David said, "Joy has blessed us richly during her time in Worcester.  She is both a wise Archdeacon and a good friend to her parishes, clergy and rural deans.  I've found her to be a gifted and astute colleague valued by all those engaged in leading the diocese.  She is a passionate preacher in our churches and a thoughtful theologian - one who has played a key role in several of the major issues the Church of England has faced at a national level – working always for the unity of Christ’s Church and the inclusion of God’s people within it."

Peter Atkinson, the Cathedral Dean said, "Joy has made a very significant contribution to the life and work of Worcester Cathedral, of which she has been the first woman residentiary canon.  Her thoughtful preaching has been appreciated by many.  She has brought her love of poetry into carefully prepared services of music and readings to mark the different seasons of the Christian year. She has chaired a committee on 'enhancing the visitors' experience', which will lead to lasting improvements in the quality of the welcome we offer to tourists and pilgrims.  Her husband Brian, a former succentor of the Cathedral, has continued to serve the Cathedral faithfully since his retirement.  The community of Worcester Cathedral will miss them both, and we wish them well for the future. "

ENDS      

The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.