Bishop welcomes new Readers
Bishop welcomes new Readers
The Bishop of Lewes, Richard Jackson, welcomed seven new Readers into the Diocese and formally admitted them into the role of Reader in the Church of England.
The ceremony took place in Chichester Cathedral on Saturday 28 September and the Readers were supported by colleagues, family, friends and parishioners.
Readers are licensed to ministry and assist priests in a range of tasks including leading worship, preaching and pastoral ministry.
Please pray for the Readers and the parishes in which they serve across Sussex.
All the candidates have supplied a little bit of information about their journey to this point in their ministry. You can read about them here:
Mike Attfield - St Mark’s Holbrook, Horsham
Mike Attfield, the CEO of a nanotechnology spin out company from Oxford University, has been attending St Mark’s Holbrook in North Horsham for 26 years.
He said: “My calling to Reader Ministry emerged during the final year of a 6-year spell as churchwarden at the time when St Mark’s Holbrook was coming into being as a new independent parish. I had a strong sense of God drawing me into ministry to fulfil an exciting new beginning both for my church and myself.
“St Mark’s has a strong tradition of Reader Ministry and I have been very blessed by the support of the other readers as well as Richard our vicar and the whole congregation as I have gone through training.
“My placement in the neighbouring parish of All Saints Roffey was very valuable and I was made to feel so welcome in a church of a very different tradition.
“The final months of my training have been marked by the sadness at the loss of my Dad, a retired priest and theologian, who was very committed to my training, but also by the joy at the birth of my first grandson. Preparing and delivering talks at both the funeral and baptism gave me a deep sense of God’s renewal all around me and the exciting possibilities of His plans for my ministry.”
Adam Hardy, St Denys’ Rotherfield and St Marks Mark Cross
Adam Hardy, 33, is married to Eleanor and they have a 14-month-old Son, Toby.
Adam loves spending time with his family but during the day he works as a Senior Specialist Technology Trainer and Dictation Work flow Consultant, working primarily to enable adults who have disabilities get access to their workplace.
Adam will be licensed to the Benefice of St Denys’ Rotherfield and St Marks Mark Cross andhas been a member of the congregation of St Denys’ since he was a child. He said: “My Christian journey began and continues at St Deny’s.My call to Ministry has developed over the last six years as I have grown in my faith. During a particular low point in my life I heard and felt God’s calling and knew that he had a plan for me. Ever since then I have felt his hand guiding me towards Lay-Ministry and two years ago I began training at St Augustine’s college.
“One of the key events in my Christian journey was during a conversation with my Nan, who’s always been my greatest inspiration, she said to me once, “Adam, when things get tough – you only need to pray for the Lord’s strength, take a minute to feel the Lord’s strength and then live the Lord’s strength.” This advice continues to be my mantra for life and ministry.”
Annie Sneller, All Hallows Tillington.
Annie Sneller began her journey through Reader training when she felt called to it in a deeper way.
“I started to worship in my parish church after moving to this small village about 18 years ago. Having been based in non-conformist settings for most of my life, I felt drawn to the timeless rhythms of worship and the ancient paths trodden by so many over the centuries.
“My life has always been based in the community as a mum and now a grandmother, as a nurse, family and schools support worker and latterly as a mediator.
“I love the fact that the tangible presence of God can be demonstrated in our parishes through our worshipping communities living out the inclusivity of the gospel. I feel strongly that we need to be ready to communicate the love of God to all who seek him.”
Annie will be licensed to the parish church of All Hallows Tillington.
Christina Heath, St Peter’s church Lynchmere
Christina Heath has realised that life is rarely one planned journey. After university she qualified and practised as a solicitor before marrying and living abroad in Kuwait, the USA and New Zealand. There she worshipped in many different churches and in different ways which enriched her belief.
After being widowed in her forties, Christina returned to the UK and began a new career teaching Law.
She enjoyed re-establishing a strong relationship with her local church. After at least two interregnums and a stint as church warden she was encouraged to contemplate lay readership. She said: “I followed the example of others who had trodden this path before and who had assisted so many in their own journeys to faith.
“My children, grandchildren and friends have fully supported me in this exciting fresh vocation and I look forward to my future ministry and what the future holds for me.
Evlynn Sharp, St Luke’s Queen’s Park Brighton
Evlynn Sharp is a poet and creative writing facilitator working in settings such as prisons, hospitals, libraries and schools helping people to express their own truth, their feelings, experiences, beliefs.
The Reader training has given her a more confident voice to talk about God. She said: “Studying was hard work yet rewarding, and theological education at St Augustine’s College spoke to the heart of faith and Christian formation.
“I valued the encouragement of people at my Church and with the support of Deacon Julie, I strengthened in preaching and leading worship.
Christian fellowship with others in training allowed for lively dialogues, and friendship. I am thankful for all the many people who enabled transformation in my life, and for my placement at Chapel Royal, where I was greeted with kindness and sincerity.
I think about those who are isolated and pushed to the margins of society. A Church that reflects inclusivity, empathy and unconditional love draws people together in unity to know God. The cultivation of love, trust, respect and hope among people in community is my Reader’s role.
Hilary Ferries, St George’s East Worthing.
Hilary Ferries has enjoyed the academic challenge of reader training. She said: “Learning to ‘do theology’, Cursillo and the placement in a local church has been fulfilling.
“I’m reminded that some years ago we bought a computer from a priest. I found his screen saver, ‘God has everything under control’ scrolling across the screen, very reassuring. This image sums up my journey over the last two years. It has been joyful. So much learning and change.
The encouragement from my family and friends and from the church families, both St George’s and my placement, has been very affirming. The support and fellowship of our cohort of Readers in training helped throughout.
“It has felt like all parts of my life have come together. I continue to try to find the still center and to ‘let go and let God’. I am looking forward to continuing the journey and serving the parish, living our mission, ‘knowing Jesus and making him known’.
Hilary will be serving at St George’s East Worthing.
Janet Webb, All Saints, Wick with St Mary’s, Lyminster.
Janet works as a freelance trainer, helping people develop skills that will free them to do things that they never thought they could. She aims to be part of a Chaplaincy service working with young adults and is in talks with a local school about volunteering with their 6th Form College.
“In 1992 at Green Park Tube Station, a complete stranger came up to me and told me that Jesus loved me. I was astonished. 6 months later I was baptised and have been on the Emmaus road ever since.
“God has been leading me to a place where I can use my own skills to communicate something of His love to people, particularly those who are struggling. My life has had a number of very high highs and some very low lows; all of this makes for an interesting lens through which to hear God speaking.
“My journey to become a Reader has been a long and slow one for various reasons but has been a joy, with much encouragement along the way from ordained and lay alike.
“The training at St Augustine’s was such a wonderful experience; the teaching was fascinating and challenging but it was in the people, in our conversations and worship together, that real formation happened.”
Janet will be serving at All Saints Wick, Littlehampton.
If you feel you may be called by God to Reader ministry you should first discuss this with your incumbent whose support you will need to be considered as a candidate. You can read more about the process here