The Church of England will be continuing to provide support for victims of church-based abuse, following a successful two-year pilot of the Safe Spaces service. Since the service began in September 2020, a team of trained support advocates has supported more than 300 victims.
A number of diocesan events are planned for the autumn, including a special service to celebrate our different abilities, a service to mark World Mental Health Day, our annual lay licensing service at Chester Cathedral, and an event exploring love across the Abrahamic religions.
After a two and a-half-year hiatus, All Angels Church in Middlewich are due to reopen their heritage trail. The trail, is a project designed to reveal the fascinating history of St Michael’s, its contents and its people, and the links they all had to the town of Middlewich through the centuries.
All Saints in Hoole are currently hosting all-inclusive break for older members of the Church Family and the local community. The event lasts from 17 – 19 August and is themed around a trip to the Caribbean and includes a variety of activities, games and excursions for people to enjoy during the 3-day experience.
Bishops Mark, Julie, and Sam have joined their peers from across the Anglican Communion at the Lambeth Conference which runs from 26 July to 08 August. Please pray for all who are attending, the conversations they will have and the fellowship they will share.
Hundreds of children received prayers and encouraging words for the next stage of their school journey. They congregated at Chester Cathedral for the traditional leavers' service which takes place as children move from primary to secondary school.
The Bishop of Birkenhead has thanked the outgoing DSAP Chair, David Hermitt, for his role in "establishing a better safeguarding culture" in the Diocese of Chester. David has resigned from the Chair after being co-opted to serve on General Synod.
Around 40 people from parishes in the deaneries of Chadkirk, Stockport, and Mottram braved the heat at the latest Everyday Faith deanery event to learn more about how the local church can encourage people to live out their faith in everyday life.
We are asking all parishes to urgently submit their returns for 2021 energy usage ahead of the 31st July 2022 deadline. After this date, the returns form will close until April 2023, when it will be reopened for submission of 2022 data.
Foundations for Ministry is again open to anyone who would like to explore what their ministry might be. Director of Ministry, the Revd Simon Chesters, says the course is a good basis for lots of different people and prior academic knowledge is not necessary.
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Young people from different parts of the diocese enjoyed being at Foxhill for The Journey, a weekend of activities and fun for young Christians. Expressions of interest for next year's weekend are open to youth and children's workers.
David Hermitt gave his maiden speech at General Synod in support of a proposal to change the makeup of the CNC that will decide the next Archbishop of Canterbury. David was "co-opted" to the House of Laity in response to the Archbishops' anti-racism report, From Lament to Action.
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The Revd Liz Shercliff is the Director of Studies for Readers. Her newly published book, 'The Present Preacher: Discerning God in the Now', is a practical, confidence-building guide for all who want to develop their preaching "by homing in on that which points to God in the now."
Chester Cathedral is undertaking a significant step toward reducing its carbon footprint by installing roof-mounted solar panels on the ancient monastic building. The solar panels are one part of the Cathedral’s activity towards becoming net-zero carbon
Christian environmental charity A Rocha has published an obituary for Upton Churchwarden Bob Pullan. Bob was one of the first chairs of the A Rocha trustees in 1983 when the organization was established.
The third of the Everyday Faith deanery events was given a big thumbs up by those attending in Prenton. Over 60 people from more than ten churches came along to learn more about how the local church can encourage people to live out their faith in everyday life.
The Clewer Initiative aims to combat modern slavery. Their Safe Car Wash App, which has been downloaded 31,000 times, enables people to report concerns of possible exploitation of people working in unsafe, unfair, and controlling conditions.
On Sunday 03 July 12 men and women were ordinand as deacons at Chester Cathedral. Please hold the newly ordained deacons in your prayers as they go forward to do God's work in our diocese.
The first ever National Church Awards to celebrate churches and the people who use and look after them are now open for entries.
Young people aged 11 to 18 are invited to take part in this year's Cranmer Awards. The Cranmer Awards are an annual competition run by the Prayer Book Society to introduce young people to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
The Diocese of Chester has received a grant of £72,000 from the Archbishops’ Council as part of a nationwide scheme to assist clergy who are struggling with the cost of living crisis. Clergy can apply here.
The journey to ordination has not been straightforward for retired judge, Tom Ryan, who describes how he had previously been told he was too old to train for ordination but was encouraged by others seeing in him the qualities he didn't necessarily see in himself.
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Jayne Manfredi, who is due to be ordained at Chester Cathedral, has said a local toddler group in Crewe helped her find God. The mother of four children, who was raised an atheist, will be ordained on 03 July 2022.
Twelve ordinands will each be ordained as 'deacon' this coming Sunday in a service, led by Bishop Mark, at Chester Cathedral. Please hold in your prayers those to be ordained deacon. A live video stream of the event will be available
Four Readers from the Diocese of Chester have successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. Deborah Rowlands, Belinda Priestley, Les Hutchinson, and Andrew Bradley-Gibbons each completed their degrees with Honours
On Saturday 18 June, 12 men and women were ordained as priests at Chester Cathedral. The sun was out in full splendour which made for some great photos of the ordinands in the Bishop's garden and after the service, outside of the cathedral.
A Deputy Headteacher in Birkenhead has described how a service offered by the Diocese of Chester has transformed the mental health of her students. Here to Listen links volunteers from churches to local schools.
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It's been a year since we first filmed the Revd Jonny Frost shortly before he was about to be ordained deacon in July 2021. We caught up with him recently to see how he's been doing as Curate at Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield.
Refugee Week is just a few days away, starting on the 20 June, and ending on Refugee Sunday, 26 June. With refugees and asylum seekers still in the headlines, this is an opportunity to join together in prayer and raise awareness of the needs of refugees.
Lucy Foster has joined Christian conservation charity, A Rocha UK, as their Eco Church officer for the North of England. Her appointment underscores A Rocha UK’s commitment to supporting Eco Churches.
