The Foundations for Ministry course helps people to understand how to hear where God is leading them. Helen Kershaw, a retired nurse, discovered that God was asking her to put her people skills to great use by continuing to be a Churchwarden, instead of the route she had envisaged before starting the course.
For nearly two years, Sheila Hankinson, a parishioner at St James, Latchford, has been spreading the word of God from her regular spot, on a bench just outside of Greggs in the Golden Square Shopping Centre in Warrington. In recognition of this, Greggs invited her to cut the ribbon at their recent re-opening, following a refit.
St. Mary’s Partington has become the 10th Silver Eco Church Award winner in our diocese. Organised by A Rocha UK, the scheme is for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth.
If you've been wondering how you might be able to serve God, but are not sure how or what route to take, then our Foundations for Ministry course might be for you. The course will help you to discern what God is calling you to do.
The Diocese of Chester is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Pocock as Strategic Programme Director, a role created to help deliver the recently agreed Vision for the diocese. Jon will begin his work in October when he will coordinate the delivery of the diocese’s strategic plan.
The Bishop of Chester is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revds Lesley Currie and Jane Proudfoot as (Interim) Assistant Archdeacons serving the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield in the Diocese of Chester. Jane and Lesley will be commissioned for this work in September.
Over the course of three days last week, there were five school leavers services, each a celebration for children who have come to the end of their time at primary school and are about to embark on a whole new chapter of their lives.
Bishop Mark led a group of clergy bikers on a ride across part of the boundary of the diocese, recreating an old tradition called 'Beating the Bounds' which involved praying for protection, praying for the crops, and also giving thanks to God for the animals and for the children who had been born.
The Committee for Outreach in the Diocese of Chester welcomes the Court of Appeal’s ruling which has declared the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda as unlawful and is encouraging people to express to their MP concerns for the Illegal Migration Bill.
As we pray for our ordinands who are getting ordained on 1 July, we wanted to feature some of the people responding to God's call.
To mark the 60th anniversary since the first ordinations of clergy to Self-Supporting Ordained Ministry in the Church of England, SSMs joined the Bishop of Chester for a garden party celebration followed by Evensong at Chester Cathedral.
As Archdeacon Ian prepares for pastures new, colleagues, friends and congregants are making plans to send him on his way with a special Chester farewell. Everyone is welcome in Wilmslow for a special farewell service on 23 July and contributions to a leaving collection can be made before then.
Tributes and memories have been shared of a much-loved former Church of England headteacher ahead of her funeral on Monday 26 June in, Stockport. Alice Ramsbottom, who died in May at the age of 108, has been described as "a diminutive figure with a massive heart".
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Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 22 June, Bishop Julie said the decision by the Archbishops' Council to disband its Independent Safeguarding Board was causing "distress and anger" among some of the survivors and victims of church-related abuse she had spoken to.
This year, for the first time in living memory, the ordination of deacons will be conducted at four different locations around the Diocese of Chester, rather than Chester Cathedral. Please hold in your prayers all those who are to be ordained deacon on Saturday 1 July 2023.
Proposed details of the Church of England’s national Redress Scheme for survivors of Church-related abuse have been published. The purpose of the Redress Scheme is to demonstrate in tangible and practical ways that the Church is truly sorry for its past failings relating to safeguarding.
Many parishes across the Diocese of Chester are actively supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We visit Runcorn parish where the church community has embraced and welcomed those seeking sanctuary and refuge wholeheartedly, helping them to find comfort in God and community.
Diocesan Synod has agreed on the diocesan vision themes and priorities set out by the Bishop of Chester. The Synod, which constitutes members from all quarters of the diocese, voted unanimously in favour of the proposals at its meeting on Saturday 17 June at Chester Cathedral.
In recent E-Bulletins we’ve been asking all churches across the Diocese of Chester to complete a short Energy Footprint survey. We are grateful to the churches that have already completed the survey and would like to encourage those still yet to participate.
Eight men and women were ordained by Bishop Mark at a memorable service held at Chester Cathedral on Saturday 10 June 2023 and the Bishop of Ebbsfleet ordained the Revd Jonathan Roberts at a service held at St Michae's, Coppenhall on 15 June.
Ian Bishop, the Archdeacon of Macclesfield, is to be the next Bishop of Thetford in the Diocese of Norwich, Downing Street has announced. Ian will spend the day touring the diocese, a place that holds many happy memories for him as he has previously served there as a parish priest.
Revd Jane Proudfoot is looking for volunteers to be part of an ecumenical team to listen, love, and care for the festival-goers at Creamfields, the biggest dance festival in the UK.
Please pray for all those who have been called to ordained ministry, in particular, we give thanks to God for those who are to be ordained priest at Chester Cathedral on Saturday 10th June, as well as Jonathan Roberts, who is due to be ordained on the 15th June in Coppenhall.
Chester Cathedral will be participating in National Refugee Week, taking place from Monday 19th June to Sunday 25th June. As a City of Sanctuary, Chester aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers, emphasising the importance of compassion.
The launch of a new vision for the Church in the Diocese of Chester took another step forward on Saturday 20 May when Bishop Mark shared for the first time what it is he has noticed and what he has identified as the themes and priorities to have emerged from the consultation process, Casting the Net Wide.
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A partnership between Barclays Bank plc, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Cathedral will see a major piece of the Cathedral’s architectural heritage return into the Cathedral’s care during the summer/autumn of 2023.
50 free contactless donation devices are now available to churches across the diocese. It's part of a national rollout to offer more donation options to people visiting our churches. If your church would like one of the devices you will need to complete the application form via 'Parish Buying'.
If you can't make it to Chester Cathedral on Saturday 20 May, or join in at one of the four "watch parties" dotted around the diocese, then you can watch the service on YouTube here from 11am.
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The project team behind an exhibition exploring links between Chester Cathedral and the British Empire is actively encouraging people from Global Majority backgrounds to participate in a series of events between the 18 and 30 May.
Those taking part or attending the live Vision Feedback Event on Saturday are urged to leave plenty of time for their journey. The M56 between junctions 11 and 12 will be closed in both directions on Saturday for planned works to demolish a decommissioned bridge.
