News

Revd Lynn is a festival highlight

Revd Lynn Boyle is the resident chaplain at Whitebottom Farm near Stockport. We caught up with her and the rockers at this year’s Firevolt 2024 event.

Sue juggles dual roles at Church House

The Diocese of Chester has appointed Sue Pocock to the roles of part-time Flourish Officer and part-time Interim Ministry Support Officer.

Bishop Julie: 'summer of sunshine and storms ...'

The Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty has issued this statement on behalf of churches across the Wirral, speaking out against rioting and racism.

Canon Theologian and Ten New Lay Canons appointed

Ten new Lay Canons have been appointed at Chester Cathedral. They were all Instituted by the Bishop and Installed into their seats by the Dean on Sunday 28th July. Each Canon will now occupy, for as long as they hold their title, one of the Cathedral’s fourteenth-century misericords in the Quire dedicated to saints who are commemorated in the Cathedral’s stained glass.

The Diocese of Chester at New Wine

With festival season upon us, Christians across the Diocese of Chester have been refreshing, relaxing, refueling, ministering and volunteering at all sorts of festivals in the region and across the UK. Find out who went to New Wine and what they got up to.

Interim Assistant Archdeacon appointment

Rev Ruth Mock, Vicar of Sandiway and Rural Dean of Middlewich will assist with delegated archidiaconal duties across the Diocese of Chester during Archdeacon Mike Gilbertson's three month sabbatical from 1 September.

Archdeacon's Visitations - A Thank You

Following the Archdeacons' visitation services across the Diocese during the month of June, we held a training day at Church House on Saturday 13 July for any new church wardens. We were delighted to see so many new wardens serving in our churches.

A thank you message from Christian Aid

In May many of our churches marked Christian Aid week by holding services, hosting events and raising funds. In what are challenging times it is wonderful that as a diocese we are able to continue to support our church’s development agency.

Bishop Julie - Responds to the Southport Incident

The Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty has responded to the stabbing in Southport this week in which three children have died and five children and two adults remain in a critical condition. The attack took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class for children on Hart Street.

Archdeacon Jane takes the biscuit

Preparations are underway for the biggest electronic dance festival in the UK right on the doorstep of the administrative headquarters of the Diocese of Chester at Daresbury Park.

'How I Came to Faith' - Pam Robinson

Pam Robinson spent most of her life “resisting God.” However, at the age of 42, during one of the most challenging weeks of her life, Pam’s cat went missing. This was the breaking point for her, and she called upon God for the first time. In that moment, Pam found faith.

Biking Bishop revs round the Diocese

The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner swapped his mitre for his motorcycle helmet and took to the roads with a biking fraternity for ‘Biking the Bounds’, an annual summer road tour of parishes in the Diocese of Chester.

New Director of Communications Appointed

Harriet Roberts has been appointed as Director of Communications on an interim basis for 12 months. Many will remember Harriet who led the Casting the Net Wide process to discern the Diocesan vision.

Funeral of Revd Tom Ryan

Friends, family and colleagues from across the Diocese gathered at Chester Cathedral for the funeral of Revd Tom Ryan, Assistant Curate at St Alban’s Broadheath on Monday 22 July. The service was led by the Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner with a eulogy from Tom’s son, Joseph and an address from Revd Canon Richard Pike.

Consultation for a new Diocesan Secretary

We need to appoint a new Diocesan Secretary / Chief Executive of the Diocesan Board of Finance, and Bishop Mark is asking us all to be part of that process.

Revd Joe Kennedy to be consecrated on 19 July.

Revd Joe Kennedy, previously Vicar of Oxton St Saviour, is to be consecrated as the Bishop of Burnley this coming Friday 19 July 2024 at 11am. The service will take place in York Minster. Here, Mark Tanner, Bishop of Chester asks Joe what called him into this new role.

Training as a Reader

Readers in the Church of England are lay people who serve in a vital ministry role. Bip Choudhury, a teacher of Anatomy at Manchester University, explains what studying to be a Reader is like.

Church video streaming leads to degree

Sam Loach, son of Mike Loach, Vicar at Christ Church, Higher Bebington, helped to establish a video streaming service for the church during the pandemic lockdown. This inspired him to study film and media at Liverpool John Moore's University.

Church awarded two major grants

St Peter’s Church in the historic centre of Chester has been awarded two large grants to enable it to carry out major repairs and keep the iconic, 700-year-old building open.

Foundations for Ministry – apply now for the Autumn

Sue Horn talks about how Foundations has equipped, encouraged and enabled her to grow in faith and explore the next step in her Christian life.

Bishop Mark Announces Interim Diocesan Secretary

Further to the recent announcement that our long-standing Dicoesen secretary, George Colville is to stand down at the end of August, Bishop Mark has asked two people to provide interim cover for the role until a new Diocesan Secretary can be appointed.

Jane's Journey to Ordination

Revd Jane Addenbrooke is to be Priested this coming Saturday, 15 June at Chester Cathedral. Her journey hasn't been smooth. In her own words, she explains, how, despite her health issues, God has given her the strength she needed to fulfil her calling to ordination.

Please pray for those being ordained priest

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 15 June. May they be blessed in their ministry and be a blessing to those they meet and serve.

The Reverend Vet

Revd Jenny McKay wanted to keep in touch with her veterinarian work colleagues during the outbreak of Covid so she started a simple Facebook page called @thereverendvet. The page has grown to nearly 9000 followers from all around the world.

Bronze Eco Diocese award for the Diocese of Chester

The Diocese of Chester has been awarded a bronze Eco Diocese award in recognition of our care for creation. The award was given by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK, and reflects Chester Diocese’s commitment to walk in step with nature and put creation care at the heart of what we do.

Archbishop of York to visit our Diocese

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, is making a missionary visit to Chester diocese later this month. He aims to share in and encourage the mission of the church, the work that churches, schools, and chaplaincies are doing to show the love of God and to make him known to the 1.5 million people of our diocese who have no connection with church.