Readers to be recognised for faithful service
Seventeen people from churches across the Diocese will be acknowledged and thanked for their commitment to parish ministry and awarded a specially designed badge and certificate by Bishop Will at a service in the Cathedral on September 30th.
Each of the seventeen holds Reader Emeritus status, which means they have exercised the ministry of Reader in the past, and that their service is now being recognised.
During the service, James Askew, from the Benefice of Old Shoreham and Kingston Buci, will also be licensed as a reader.
James came to faith at the age of 44 whilst living in Southport, Merseyside and has been worshiping in Kingston Buci for 10 years. He said: "Since we moved back down to the South Coast, I wanted to get more involved with church life, so I became a lay minister of Communion and Server. I increasingly believed God was calling me to a ministry but it took time and patience waiting for God working it through.
"Circumstances and opportunities came together with the arrival of a new incumbent who encouraged me to become an Authorised Lay Minister. This enabled me to take up certain ministerial duties during the period of the pandemic in order that online and socially-distanced services could be offered in the Benefice. My Vicar encouraged Reader training for me to consolidate my discipleship and skills and, at the same time, I was able to reduce my hours of my work as a physiotherapist in the NHS. I am very grateful for the opportunity to deepen my faith and to be able to help other do the same through my ministry."
Readers assist parish clergy in a range of tasks including leading worship, preaching and pastoral ministry.
The Reader Emeritus being recognised are:
Ann Bates, St Mary the Virgin, Battle
Brian Moore, All Saints, Crawley Down
Carol Cooper, St Mary the Virgin, Eastbourne
David Olby, Slindon, Eartham and Madehurst
James Gatherum, Westfield
John Charman ,Jarvis Brook
Jon Rotheray, Slaugham and Staplefield Common
Karen Ind, Horsham
Marian Framroze, St Mary Magdelene, Coldean
Peter Blencowe, The Octagon
Peter Rhodes, St George, Worthing
Peter Thompson, Wadhurst, Tidebrook and Stonegate
Richard Maylam, Waldron
Roger Clayton-Pearce, Bexhill St Stephen
Rosemary Cordero, St Mary’s, Balcombe
Simon Quail, St Mary’s Horsham
Tony Idle, Trinity in Lewes
Please pray for all Readers and the parishes in which they serve across Sussex.