Farewell to DDO John Fitzmaurice
Published: 11th August 2026John Fitzmaurice will be stepping down as our Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) and leaving at the end of October.
News
Equipping our Ministers for Mission
Published: 6th August 2026The 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.
Renewals film - the progress so far
Published: 5th February 2026By 2030 we plan to renew around 12 churches across the Diocese so that every major population area has at least one larger church with 150 attendees. This film seeks to showcase and celebrate the progress so far.
ALMs celebration service held at Worcester Cathedral
Published: 26th January 2026A service of celebration for Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs) was held at the Cathedral on Saturday 24 January. This year’s ALMs have been trained to become children and youth work ministers, worship leaders or New Worshipping Community (NWC) ministers.
Catching up with the Director of Mission and Ministry
Published: 20th November 2025Joseph Diwakar was appointed as the diocesan Director of Mission and Ministry earlier this year, taking up his new role in June. We caught up with him to find out how his first few months have been and his plans for the Equipping Ministers for Mission underpinning diocesan priority.
Revd Giles Joiner installed as Team Vicar in Gornal and Sedgley
Published: 25th September 2025At All Saints church in Sedgley on Sunday 21st September, Giles Joiner was installed as Team Vicar in the benefice of Gornal and Sedgley by Bishop Anne Hollinghurst. It was a joyful service, designed to offer a warm welcome to Giles and his family.
Behind the scenes at the Diocesan Office
Published: 21st August 2025Jayne Parker recently spent several days at the Diocesan Office on a curacy placement, gaining insight into the behind-the-scenes work that supports the life of the Church.
Trading Sales for Service: Introducing new Ops Manager Tim Hancock
Published: 1st July 2025Tim 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...
Second cohort progressing well on Auxiliary Pathway
Published: 18th June 2025The 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.
Youth Pastor Nathan brings fresh vision to Malvern Chase
Published: 5th June 2025Nathan 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.
Readers gather at Holland House
Published: 20th May 2025A 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.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Published: 16th May 2025Clergy life is deeply rewarding, but it can also bring hidden challenges — isolation, loneliness, and heavy workloads. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we're highlighting the importance of supporting the wellbeing of our clergy and their families.
Melissa Rose: 10 years of being an LLM
Published: 15th May 2025Melissa 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.
Renewal leaders gather for first learning community session
Published: 27th March 2025A learning community has been launched for Renewal and Resourcing Church leaders to support each other as they journey together on their missions to revitalise existing churches and grow the Kingdom.
Introducing the diocesan children, youth and families ministry network
Published: 25th February 2025As more children, youth and families’ workers have been recruited in the diocese over the last few years, the diocesan Programme Lead for Children and Young People, Simon Hill, has created a Children, Youth and Families Ministry Network for paid workers.
New guide to New Worshipping Communities
Published: 30th January 2025A new guide to New Worshipping Communities (NWCs) in the Diocese has been launched. It will support parishes who are looking to find creative ways of reaching people beyond our existing congregations as we look to reach our target of creating 100 NWCs by 2030.
Encouraging signs of growth for diocesan transformation programme
Published: 17th December 2024In 2023 we launched a seven-year transformation programme, assisted by funding from the national church, aiming to transform communities through churches that are growing in health and sustainability. The first data back from churches is showing encouraging signs of growth.
Introducing Fraser Oates: Renewal Leader for St Stephen's Church, Redditch
Published: 28th November 2024In September 2024, Fraser Oates was appointed as the Renewal Leader for St Stephen's Church in Redditch and has relocated there, marking a new chapter for him and his family as well as the church and community.
Book now for our Conference for Smaller Churches
Published: 21st August 2024Leaders and volunteers from the 150 smaller churches in our diocese are warmly invited to attend our one-day Conference for Smaller Churches.
St Stephens Redditch holds prayer breakfast focusing on Renewal
Published: 21st August 2024St Stephens in Redditch held a prayer breakfast focusing on their Renewal journey. Fraser Oates who has been Assistant Curate at All Saints in Worcester will shortly be moving to Redditch to take up the role of Renewal Leader.
Latest News
Richard Wood to become Priest in Charge
16th August 2026
Bishop Hugh has announced the appointment of the Revd Richard Wood as Priest in Charge of Warndon St Nicholas and Associate Priest in the Worcester South East Team with special responsibility for Ronkswood Holy Trinity & St Matthew.