As we continue on our seven-year journey of transformation to ensure our churches are growing healthier and more sustainable, real progress is being made in our Transformation programme priority areas. Churches across the Diocese are starting to see the green shoots of growth.
11 children from the Church of the Ascension CE Primary School in Wall Heath, Dudley have achieved the Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award. The children were presented with their certificates by Bishop Martin at a special collective worship in school.
Three additional stipendiary curates will be able to be recruited for 2026 thanks to new funding from the national church.
Tim Hancock’s latest career move has made him feel like his life has gone full circle. Moving to work for Holy Trinity Old Hill, the church he was raised attending and where his father once served as vicar, has taken him out of the fast-paced world of AV corporate sales...
Teams of people from churches across the Diocese looking to start or grow a New Worshipping Community have been part of the Myriad learning community since January 2024. In this video we hear about what's it's like to be a part of a learning community.
The second Auxiliary Pathway cohort started in September 2024. This group includes people who are training to be Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) alongside those who are exploring a vocation to be ordained.
‘Sparkle Tots’ is church for pre-schoolers and their parents or carers. It takes place at St Nicholas Church in Droitwich on Mondays during term time.
St Laurence Church in Alvechurch, just outside Redditch, has a group of young people who attend church with their families. The Ministry team has been working with the group to explore ways of helping them feel that it’s their church too, involving them with different ministries.
Nathan Shipton started a new role as Youth Pastor for the Malvern Chase team in April 2024 bringing with him a fresh vision and passion for engaging with 11–18 year olds that has already made a difference across the churches’ communities.
St Stephen’s Barbourne recently launched a new website, using a HUBB Church template, and are really pleased with the end result. Priest in Charge, Lindsey Coulthard, shares their journey.
A Readers residential was held at the weekend with over 30 Licensed Lay Ministers from across the Diocese coming together at our diocesan retreat house, Holland House near Pershore.
Melissa Rose is a Reader or Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in Dudley. She was one of our first LLMs to be trained at Queen’s Theological college and was licensed in September 2015.
People from churches across the Diocese gathered together in the Cathedral to celebrate the life of our smaller churches. Churches with 20 or fewer active members make up 45% of our churches and play an important role in their communities.
The Muddy Boots Rural Mission area covers 26 churches and 156 square miles. The area has a number of ministers and three stipendiary incumbents – Sallie Butcher, Julia Curtis and David Morris, who work closely together to support each other.
To support one of their Neurodivergent parishioners who is Dyslexic, the team in Halas has bought a special Dyslexia-friendly bible with coloured inlays. This enables more people to join the reading rota and share passages from the bible.
St James Church in Hartlebury village near Kidderminster has launched a new monthly energetic church service called ‘Jamie’s’ for children and families featuring ISingPOP’s catchy worship songs and dance routines. It takes place on the second Sunday of the month in the church at 4pm.
St John’s church in Halesowen is looking at ways they can build stronger links with and better serve their local community. This week they have launched a post exam calm space for year 11s about to embark on their GCSEs.
Churches across the diocese baptised new people into the faith on Easter Day.
A blog from Diocesan Lead for Transformation and Change, Nikki Groarke about conversations taking place in each of our churches over the next couple of months as we continue on our journey to improve the health and sustainability of our churches
Heather Murphy has recently been appointed as Children, Youth and families Minister for three churches in Worcester that already work closely together.
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2nd October 2025