About Us
The Chester Diocesan Youth Office aims to inspire and enable every church to share the good news of Jesus with young people.
The work is led by Revd Mark Montgomery, an experienced and qualified youth worker and minister. He is supported by Sandra James the youth, children's and education administrator and more importantly many volunteers. We offer a range of youth events, training and resources for parishes working in the Diocese with young people (11-25).
Our vision is to see young people reaching their full potential through their relationship with God and resource parishes to be able to relevantly communicate the gospel message to all young people. We do this through a range of activities, training, consultancy and peer support to help parishes in their work (whatever stage they are at) with young people and to offer new opportunities outside parish life that builds on the ongoing local work.
We aim to establish good communication across the diocese between young people, youth workers and other groups and organisations within and outside the diocesan structures.
We also aim to create relevant links with other organisations providing youth work in the Diocese and where available publicise relevant events and opportunities.
We encourage young people to take an active part in all our youth events and welcome new young leaders on to all our planning groups. If you are interested in training for your parish or to find out more information about events please get in contact by clicking on the contacts page.
Revd Mark Montgomery is a long term youth minister and is passionate about helping young people meet, know and reach their full potential for God. He has worked in a mix of settings, from parishes and local authorities to YMCA's and Dioceses across the country. He is contributing Editor to 'Young People and Worship: a Practical Guide', he has also written for Roots the Lectionary based material and more recently contributed to the US book 'It Happens: True Tales from the Trenches of Youth Ministry'. He is a member of IASYM (the international association for the study of youth ministry) contributing to the research and development of youth ministry as an academic subject as well as the practical sides of working with young people. He is also Honorary curate at St Mary's Church, Upton (on the Wirral).
Sandra James is the first point of contact in the office at Church House. Sandra has been on the Church House staff since 1989. She is responsible for administration including the resource library and event bookings