Diocese of Chichester

The joyous occasion was shared with family, friends, and of course members of their churches who have supported them throughout.

Bishop Ruth said: “It was a great privilege to license Lesley and Jane as Readers in the Diocese, and a joyful occasion.

"At the service we reflected on the example set for us by Queen Elizabeth II who was of course an outstanding exemplar of dedicated lay ministry and discipleship in action.

"Our prayers and blessing go with Jane and Lesley as they begin this new chapter in their parishes. “

The two Readers have now commenced their respective ministries supporting the wider ministries of the parish.

We join with them, their families, friends, and parishes in rejoicing at their calling as they begin this new chapter in their lives.

The special event was also an opportunity for Readers from across the Diocese to renew their vows. 

 Main picture above from Left to right: Revd Owen Edwards, Lesley Curtis, Bishop Ruth, Levison Kandi, Assistant Warden of Lay Ministry, Jane Garland, Revd Trevor Harrison and Warden of Readers, Peter Mansell.

Picture below: Readers in the diocese are invited to the service to renew their vows

Jane’s Vocation

Jane worked for many years in the Careers Service but also as a Dementia Adviser and youth worker.

Jane said of her call to ministry; “I was not brought up in the Church and I feel I am a most unlikely Reader.I had been a PCC (Parochial Church Council) member and held a variety of other roles within the Church over the years but then I found myself participating in and leading a variety of small study groups together with meditation and contemplative gatherings.I found the discussions fascinating and challenging and felt led to gain some measure of theological understanding of the faith I had half taken for granted and half assumed was based on concepts above my head.When it was suggested to me, I train as a Reader I laughed, and carried on laughing each time the suggestion was made until one day I twigged that maybe God was trying to tell me something!”

Jane completed her study for reader training at St Augustine’s College in Kent.

Lesley’s Vocation

Lesley worked for the family accountancy firm after a serious illness forced her to retire from her former career in general nursing, midwifery, and theatre nursing.

Her parents were missionaries, so Lesley became a Christian at a very early age.

Lesley and her husband Harry have been involved in missionary work themselves, serving overseas, including in the Philippines where she was called to preach the gospel every week in a conglomerate of small churches from different streams of the Christian faith in a squatter resettlement area. She fell into the role of supporting women with practical health and nutrition advice.

After settling down in the small village of Udimore and attending the Parish Church of St Mary’s, Udimore. She says, “It was as if God just spoke to me through the liturgy. It simply came alive!”

She has a heart to support young mothers and children and has experience in running the local Messy Church. Lesley has a passion to see people of all ages engage personally with the bible on a daily basis in order to grow more deeply in their faith and the love of Christ.

If you would like to know more about Reader ministry or vocations in the Church of England take a look at our webpages here