The Diocesan Mailing is produced every two weeks and contains news, training opportunities and events from around the diocese and wider Church of England. The Training Mailing is produced every month and is a round up of upcoming training opportunities around the diocese.
We are sorry to share the news that John Fitzmaurice will be stepping down as our Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) and leaving at the end of October.
We are starting a project to look at the logos and general branding that we use as a diocese to explore refreshing and modernising our visual identity.
The way we package our training is set to change! Underpinning our three priorities is a fourth - the importance of ensuring all our ministers, both lay and ordained, are properly equipped for mission.
An article for September editions of parish magazines from the Archdeacon of Dudley, Nikki Groarke.
Every three years, the clergy of the Diocese meet for a clergy conference to pray, worship and learn together, as well as having some fun! The next conference will take place from 21 - 24 September in Derbyshire with the theme of: Curious Hope: Journeying Together into God's Future.
Bishop Hugh has announced the appointment of the Revd Alison Hill as Team Rector in the Dudley Team Ministry and Resourcing Church Leader at Top Church.
40 choristers from seven different churches gathered at St Mary’s Church in Kingswinford as Adam Hadley was licensed as Rector of the benefice.
Bishop Hugh has visited St James’ Church in Malvern to bless their orchard as well as their Orchard Church New Worshipping Community, as work starts to create an eco-pond and ‘pilgrim path’ through the orchard.
Around 80 people from across the Diocese gathered in the garden of the Old Palace in Worcester on Saturday to celebrate 10 years of the Eco Church Award Scheme.
Over the past 18 months, we have been working with iSingPOP on a partnership project to enable parishes to access their training and resources. Following a review of the project and its impact, the decision has been made to bring the project to a close at the end of July.
Following the final approval of two new liturgical observances at the July 2026 Group of Sessions of the General Synod, the liturgical commission has published a circular which provides background and practical guidance relating to these observances.
Diocesan retreat house, Holland House is offering a taster week from 25 - 28 August with activities and a cup of tea or coffee offered for a donation.
At the end of June the Church remembers the martyrdoms of St Peter and St Paul and this year, for their Patronal Festival, St Peter’s Church in Lapal, just outside Halesowen, held an ‘Eco-flower’ Festival in a wonderfully creative way!
Chris Smith was licensed as Curate in Charge of the parish of St Mark in Pensnett last Sunday by Bishop Martin in a service full of joy. Pensnett Church is sometimes referred to as the Cathedral of the Black Country and will become one of our diocesan renewal churches.
Bishop Hugh led a special service at All Saints’ Church in Wribbenhall (between Bewdley and Kidderminster) on Sunday. The Bishop blessed the church following the full reopening of the nave enabling the whole church to be able to be used.
Our diocese hosts a group whose focus is criminal justice. The group offers a faith perspective on criminal justice matters and raises awareness of the issues. CJAG offers this bi-monthly prayer guide which we hope will be useful for personal and intercessory prayer in local parishes. July's prayers focus on offenders with mental health problems.
Five children have been chosen as the winners of Bishop’ Hugh’s art competition. Evie Parkes, Isabelle Stringer, Layla Smith, Harry Andrews and Autumn Faulkner were all invited to afternoon tea in Bishop Hugh’s office to meet with the bishop and to see where their artwork will be hung.
Churches from across the Redditch Mission Area are planning to make use of a unit at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre this summer, launching a new initiative called ‘Bags of Hope’ to support families across Redditch and show Christ’s love - but they need donations to get this off the ground!
Many churches across our diocese are planning to offer free or low-cost children’s holiday clubs to support families in their communities during the school summer holidays and introduce children who may not usually come to church to Christianity in a fun and creative way.
In June, 24 members of Kingswinford Parish got together to host their first ‘Sustainable Evening’ with friends. They watched ‘The People’s Emergency Briefing’ film, after sharing a vegan meal. The evening ended with open and meaningful conversation and prayer.
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11th August 2026