The planning team behind next year's Clergy Gathering has confirmed the name of one of its key note speakers. The conference will take place between 16 and 19 of May 2022 at Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire.
Parishes are invited to hold a net zero service between now and the 7th November. Resources are available to help parishes measure the carbon footprint of their services, including travel emissions, heating, lighting and electricity.
Holy Cross Woodchurch Churchyard has achieved the Green Flag Award. The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces. Holy Cross Churchyard is one of 2127 award-winning green spaces.
The voting and subsequent counting of the votes for the General Synod election for the Diocese of Chester has now been completed. The counting of votes took place on the afternoon of 13 October 2021.
On Saturday 9th October Bishop Mark admitted and licensed twelve lay people at Chester Cathedral. Seven readers and one pastoral worker were also there, as were eighteen readers and four pastoral workers who became emeritus.
The October edition of the Chester Diocesan News is now available. Revd Canon Lameck Mutete talks about 'Black lives matter' and introduces the 'Global Images of Christ' exhibition at Chester Cathedral.
The Archbishops have announced the names of the 11 Commission Members who have been appointed to the Racial Justice Commission, joining Lord Boateng whose Chairmanship of the Commission was announced in July.
A new Church of England guide for parishes, to help them consider how to ensure their building is welcoming to all, has recently been published. Find out more and get in touch for further support.
12 men and women will be licensed into lay ministry on Saturday at 2.30pm. Bishop Mark will lead the service which will be available to watch online. Please continue to pray for the new Readers, Pastoral Workers, and Lay Pioneers.
A special service was held at St James’ Church, New Brighton, on Sunday 03 October, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Britain’s first Guide Dogs. Members of the Guide Dogs Association were also present.
Camino to COP is a pilgrimage for climate justice, which began in London and will finish in Glasgow on 31 October. We met the walkers in Hartford as they passed through our diocese.
During the summer, Sean Augustin joined the safeguarding team at Church House as an Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser helping and supporting our Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSOs).
A multi-faith group walking from London to Glasgow to raise awareness of climate crisis are about to arrive in our diocese where they will be explaining more about their walk and COP26.
On 16 August St Mary's Lymm had their pathway stolen. Since then, the church has had lots of support from the local community and Warrington Borough Council. The path is now fully restored.
The opening of Global Images of Christ, the ground-breaking exhibition, has been well received at a special launch event at Chester Cathedral. The exhibition is open to the public from Saturday 25 September until the end of October.
_1631533174.png)
A course called Restoring Lives will support those impacted by separation or divorce. Run by Mark and Helen Tomlinson from St Mary's, Cheadle, they say the need to get alongside people "is as great as it has ever been".
The Chester Diocesan News is to discontinue at the end of 2021. The final edition will be the 2021 December edition. The CDN features stories from parishes and publicises upcoming events and initiatives from Church House officers.
The planning team for the Clergy Gathering 2022 have announced that the conference will focus on Mark 1:14-18 and will be titled: "Recasting the Net". Hundreds of clergy are expected to attend in May 2022 at Swanwick, Derbyshire.
Hundreds of thousands of people have rediscovered the ancient monastic cycle of daily prayer through a Church of England podcast which has received more than a million downloads in just six months.
The Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty, is encouraging churches in the Diocese of Chester to mark Safeguarding Sunday and says: "We need to talk more about safeguarding," and address our "past failures".
Please pray for the 12 men and women who are due to be licensed into lay ministry roles at Chester Cathedral on 9 October 2021. Pray for them, their new ministries, and for the parishes in which they will serve.Â
All are invited to two special Welcome Services for the new Bishops of Birkenhead and Stockport, to praise, pray and offer thanks for the ministry of Julie and Sam as they begin their ministry amongst us.
A bright new dawn broke on Saturday as representatives from Church of England dioceses across the North West gathered together for a celebration service to launch the region’s newest theological college.
A teaching day to help us all think through the issues of race and ethnicity as they affect the Church today. Speakers include Revd Cham Kaur-Mann, Revd Shemil Matthew, and Revd Calvin Samuel.
_1631795031.png)
The General Synod elections are currently underway. The diocese is required to elect four representatives in each of the two electoral areas to the House of Laity and six Proctors in Convocation.
The Diocese of Chester has registered its intent to work towards Eco-Diocese status. To achieve bronze, silver, and gold status, the diocese must fulfill certain activities as part of the A Rocha environmental scheme.
_1631545765.png)
A landmark exhibition of over 40 works of art, sculpture, and images will challenge perceptions of how Jesus Christ and other people of faith are depicted. The exhibition opens at Chester Cathedral on 25 September.
Early booking is recommended for a mental health conference that will take place in the days following World Mental Health Day. Keynote speakers include the Revd Dr Carla A. Grosch-Miller.
_1626172808.png)
The installation of the Bishop of Birkenhead and the Bishop of Stockport took place at Chester Cathedral on Sunday 05 September. The service was recorded on video and you can view it here.
Parishes are encouraged to mark Anti Slavery Sunday on 17 October by incorporating some of the themes into their church services and praying for those affected. Find out more and access some resources and ideas.
_1631013354.png)