Bishop's Permission to Preach

What is the Bishop's Permission to Preach (BPP) programme?

As a Diocese we want to equip members of our church communities to live the mission of Jesus and to take the opportunity to share the love of Christ through the ministry of preaching.  The Bishop’s Permission to Preach (BPP) programme is a way of recognising and affirming the preaching gifts of lay church members.

The year-long programme provides the opportunity for training in biblical studies from tutors from the Winchester Diocese Mission & Ministry team as well as through participation in supervised regional preaching groups.  It seeks to equip laity so that they “with care and sincerity can minister the word of truth  for the glory of God and to the edification of the people” Canon B18.3.

BPP Taster Sessions

If you are interested in finding out more about the BPP programme, we hold information sessions each year. The course starts in the autumn term, so now we’re looking ahead to the course starting in September 2026.

At these taster sessions, you will be able to hear from a previous participant, learn about the course content and the time commitment involved. There will also be plenty of opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  Attending an information event does not commit you to do the training!

The information sessions for the course starting in September 2026 will be held:

Online (via Zoom), 3 November 2025 (7pm – 8:30pm);

In-person at Old Alresford Place (SO24 9DH), 6 November 2025 (2pm – 3:30pm).

Both of these will have the same content so it is a matter of choosing which is the most convenient for you to attend.

If you wish to register interest for these sessions or you already know you want to do the BPP programme, please contact Frances Ter Harr at Frances.TerHaar@winchester.anglican.org for further information. Please note: the application deadline for the course starting September 2026 is 31 January 2026.

Pat Wooten - BPP Testimony Video

Pat Wooten BPP

Bishop's Permission to Preach FAQs

The BPP programme has been created to support the work of benefices and deaneries by equipping lay people to preach in their home parishes on a regular basis.  Currently, lay members should preach no more than once a quarter with the agreement and supervision of the incumbent, unless they are LLMs or LLWs.

No, but you do need to be able to say yes to the following:

  • Are you in good standing with your church community?
  • Have your church leadership recognised your preaching potential?
  • Do you have a love for God’s word?
  • Do you have a desire to build up God’s people through teaching and preaching?
  • Are you prepared to step outside of your own church to preach across a benefice or deanery?
  • What evidence can you bring to demonstrate the above?

The BPP programme is a big commitment, particularly of your time.  There are tutorials, study days and of course private home study, written assignments and practical preaching.  Please think and pray about this.

It is likely you will need to drop some of your regular commitments to make time to study.  How do you feel about that?

  • Are you prepared to commit to attend all tutorial dates and study days?  Can you honestly fit studying in with your other life commitments?  If not, maybe this is not quite the right time for you.
  • Are you comfortable with uncomfortable ideas?  Studying theology can open your eyes to issues you may never have come across in devotional study of the Bible.
  • How are you at essay writing?  You will be expected to complete written assignments to first year undergraduate level. Study skills training will be provided.
  • Do you have a computer and can you use it?   Much of the material you will use and the work you submit will be done online.  You cannot complete BPP without access to a computer and the skills to use it.

Speak to your incumbent and PCC because you will need their support to take this training. There is a cost involved which your PCC will have to cover.

Contact us to register your interest and attend our open events to find out more and ask your questions.

We have a limited number of places available on the BPP programme and we expect applications to outnumber places.  There is therefore a selection process in place.

The timetable is:

  • Application window is open January to February
  • Interviews take place in March
  • The programme begins in September and runs until the following July.

Please contact Frances.TerHaar@winchester.anglican.org to register your interest, for further programme information and an application form.