Last Saturday 8th October was a joyous occasion at which 92 people were licensed, commissioned and welcomed at Winchester Cathedral. The service was a time of celebration and commissioning, with wonderful preaching from Charles Idu, Student Pastor at St Swithun’s, Bournemouth, and several testimonies shared by those being licensed. At the end of the service, the procession of those newly licensed left through the open cathedral doors singing and rejoicing – sent out to serve in their calling and ministry to the world!
More photos from the service can be found here.
Here are a few stories from those licensed…
Joan Appleyard (Bishop’s Permission to Preach), Churchwarden at St Peter & St Paul, King’s Somborne
My vicar asked me to pray about undertaking it… but I thought I was far too old, and I feared to embark on such a new and daunting challenge. How wrong I was. It has been one of the best experiences ever.
I could spend ages talking about the delight I found in the academic study of the scriptures, of the challenge of learning some of the skills of preaching and of using the Bible to enlighten and illuminate some of the major issues and dilemmas of our times. Our tutors were passionate about their subjects, and they challenged us with a demanding rigor delivered in the kindest way. The friendship and fellowship of the group has been of key importance in the development both of our preaching and our personal spiritual growth.
A year ago, I would have found it hard to believe that I could enjoy preparing and delivering a sermon. And I know that we all feel empowered and equipped to play new roles in the service of God’s kingdom.
Sophie Isherwood (Bishop’s Commission for Mission, Creation Care), from St John’s, Rownhams and St Boniface, Nursling
For me, it started a year ago, around last year’s COP26. I kept hearing the news and talks at Church from members of our eco team and it was a kind of epiphany. God made this wonderful world for us and I felt called to take action and change my lifestyle, to honour God’s creation. I wanted to equip myself – to find out how I could show others, why my lifestyle has changed.
Through the training I’ve realised the interconnectedness of humans with the earth. How reliant we are on it for food, shelter, basic needs (even toilet paper!). During the course we were taught the Church of England’s 5 marks of mission – the 5th one being that God asks us to care for his creation. I saw how this was connected to the 3rd mark of mission “to respond to human need by loving service” and the 4th mark “to seek to transform unjust structures of society.” I really saw how much injustice the climate crisis has produced, with the poorest nations suffering the most.
The training has also given me the confidence to go out of my comfort zone and run outreach events such as this year’s ‘Churches Count on Nature’, where new families came had a fun afternoon really looking in our churchyard for a wealth of nature.
Ruth Delcaour (Bishop’s Commission for Mission, Growing Faith), from All Saints, Dibden
I felt called to the Growing in Faith course, with the intention to apply what I learned to my Church youth, to help then grow in their faith. What I found was that my own faith grew and that I was being narrow minded – God had a bigger plan. Whilst I could see to the end of the road, God very much took me around the corner.
The BCM has given me a deeper faith and a fire in my belly! So far, since the BCM, I have revamped our youth work, started a Women’s Breakfast every month, which has been fully attended each time we meet, and a ladies’ craft evening. I have also reviewed our Home Groups and sent out a survey, offering everyone the opportunity to be in a home group – as a result we have over 150 people now in regularly meeting home groups and 6 new groups. We have also created a home group pastoral team who will support HG leaders, new and old, and can step in to help lead if a leader is unavailable. I am on fire for the Lord and can’t wait to see what is next!
Greg Eland, Licensed Lay Worker
The Licensing and Commissioning Service for Lay Ministry was a moment that I will cherish for a long time as I caught a glimpse of the bigger picture of what God is doing through His people in the Winchester Diocese in this season. It was a time of celebration, rejoicing and, for me personally, affirmation in the role that God has called me into as a Licensed Lay Worker.
The procession at the end of the service captured the heart of God and highlighted the direction of travel for lay ministry. As this group marched out singing, rejoicing, praying, and worshiping to the words “Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King, his Love endures forever”, the doors of the Cathedral were opened, the procession moved out to the streets and the image of God’s people being empowered and released to love and point people to Jesus in their home, work , communities and churches was displayed.
It’s a new season and a new day, and I am ready to play my part as the Kingdom of God advances in the Winchester Diocese.
We give huge thanks for all the people licensed, commissioned and welcomed, including…
Licensed Lay Ministers
- Stephen Williams
- Suki Coe
- Julie Renton
Licensed Lay Ministers transferring from another Diocese:
- Elaine Steere
- Caitlin Brinkley
Licensed Lay Workers
- Gemma Ball
- Liz Barlow
- Greg Eland
Bishop’s Permission to Preach
- Joan Appleyard
- Andy Milchard
- John Young
- Colin Bezant
- Alison Mayne
- Sally Sinclair
- Steve King
- Rachel Cook
- Luke Augustyn
- David James
- Paul Caneparo
- Rosemarie Tiffen
- Neil Osborne
Church Army Evangelists
- Ruth Hills
- Chloe Sheppard
Lay Ministries Service – Bishop’s Commission for Mission
Pastoral
- Hazel Anderson
- Lynn Black
- Susan Bourne
- Louise Causer
- Frances Daniel
- Susan Forward
- Joyce Kolaczkowski
- Marilyn Lewis
- Alan Manners
- Susan Manners
- Peter Melvin
- Sarah Roberts
- Anne Stokes
- Carol Tyler
- Cathie Weldon
Worship
- John Athanasiou
- Jasmine Bayley
- Veronica Brewer
- Mary Cleal
- Trevor Clewer
- Elizabeth Deadman
- Clare Durham
- Kathleen Freeman
- Denise Harding
- Roger Keys
- Patrick Melville
- Julia Noble
- Graham Norman
- Ruth Palmer
- Kate Pinnell
- Janet Ryan
- Alex Sains
- Rodolph de Salis
- Rodney Skinner
- David Stone
- Nicholas Straw
- Desmond Thuambe
- Jennifer Thorne
- Patricia Wootten
Creation Care
- Jacqueline Brown
- Philip Carr
- David Chappell
- Diana Conway-French
- Christopher Day
- Nicola Duncalfe
- Helen Edmonds
- Christina Macleod
- Sophie Ross
- Mary Savage
- Linda Wain
- Diane Wright
Growing Faith
- John Athanasiou
- Ruth Delacour
- Catherine Geddes
- Charlie Gibbs
- Marie Grout
- Denise Harding
- Jennifer Howard
- Nigel Hughes
- Angela Southern
- Rosalind Waight
Prayer Champions
- Ian Burnham
- Heather Carrick
- Sheilah Collis
- Steph Forward
- Samantha Swyer
- Marrianne Tomkies
Children & Youth Ministry
- Michele Gosling
- Kirsty Harris
- Susan Murphy
- Rebecca Webb
