Jan 23, 2026 | News
A record number of young adults have joined a year-long placement scheme to experience ministry in the Church of England.
The Ministry Experience Scheme (MES) intake this year is 121, the largest the scheme has had since it was founded more than a decade ago, and an increase on the last record intake in 2019/2020 when 109 young adults joined.
The new figures mean that more than 100 young adults have joined the scheme for the third year running, with this year’s intake including 28 who are taking part in a specialist children and youth ministry scheme called
Future Youth. This year’s total means that more than 1,000 young adults, including this year’s intake, have been part of the Scheme since it was set up in 2013.
The placement allows 18 to 29-year-olds to gain a range of experience in areas such as preaching and Sunday services, chaplaincy, social justice ministry, digital media, pastoral visiting, event organisation, evangelism and children and youth work.
The record figures have been revealed after 150 participants and leaders gathered last week at St Mark’s, Regent’s Park in London for a day of fellowship, sharing their insights and hearing from speakers including the Bishop of Barking, Lynne Cullens (pictured, below) and Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms MP.
Rachel, who has spent part of her year in Brussels, said serving including at the local foodbank has “been such a joy”. She recently moved to work in an estate in Guildford where she is ‘seeing God at work through the people.’
Joe, who is part of the Derby Future Youth Scheme said he had been inspired by his younger brother to serve. With his church he recently launched a youth drop in session which saw 50 people come in the first week.
The acting Bishop of Durham, Sarah Clark, who is Chair of the Ministry Experience Scheme, said: “It was a joy to see so many young people gathered at the conference, and to hear their testimonies of serving the church and exploring their God-given vocations. I thank all those taking part, and those who support and pray for them in our dioceses and parishes. May we continue to pray for those who participate in the scheme, and for its continued success.”
The Rev Charlotte Cook, Interim Head of Vocations for the Ministry Development Team said: “There is a real sense of energy and enthusiasm amongst young people who want to serve the Lord through this ministry. I pray that their call transforms their lives and those they serve this year and in the years to come.”
- More information about the Ministry Experience Scheme can be found here.
- Future Youth, a strand of the Ministry Experience Scheme, began in 2023, and offers an opportunity for young people aged between 18 and 29 to spend a year exploring young people and children’s ministry through ministry placements, training and mentoring. Participants test God’s calling on their lives by pursuing ministry in a safe and supportive environment and receiving training through a nationally run course.
Nov 2, 2025 | News
Six candidates were licensed for lay ministry at the annual service for Licensed Lay Ministers at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday.
Alongside the newly admitted ministers were licensed lay ministers (LLMs) from around the diocese who joined the candidates in dedicating themselves afresh to their ministry, during the service which was led by Bishop Gavin.
The candidates presented were Eve Hitchens, Linda Hobbs, Rachel Moss, Mike Murray, Joe O’Neill and Karen Broadbent.
The preacher was the Revd Andrew Blyth, Director of Mission and Ministry at the diocese. During his sermon he celebrated the candidates as they begin a new chapter of their story. Evoking the imagery of The Archers and The Traitors (!) Andrew described us all as living our own story.
He said: “God writes the story in us and with us. Let him, I pray. A story of hope and goodness fill each one of us with this hope in Jesus’ name.”
During the service each of the candidates were asked to publicly to profess their faith with the congregation as their witness. Bishop Gavin then admitted each of them in turn, presented them with a Bible and prayed for them.
Following this prayer the LLMs’ sponsoring training incumbent or archdeaconry advisor then put the blue scarves on them. At the end of the service, all of those licensed or authorised to preach stood, and holding their Bibles aloft were blessed in their ministry.
- Eve Hitchens will serve at St Michael in the Northgate, Oxford.
- Linda Hobbs will serve at St Helen’s in Abingdon.
- Rachel Moss will serve at St Michael and St Mary Magdalene, Easthampstead.
- Mike Murray will serve at St Michael’s Steventon.
- Joe O’Neill will serve at St Mary’s Church, Aylesbury.
- Karen Broadbent will serve at Christ the King, Sonning Common.
See more photos from the service in the Facebook gallery.
Oct 18, 2025 | News
On Saturday 18 October, Newcastle Diocese welcomed three new Readers to serve in the Diocese.
Izzy McDonald-Booth, Jo McEvedy and Bec Scane were licensed by Bishop Mark during a special Eucharist service at Newcastle Cathedral.
To see more photos
https://www.newcastle.anglican.org/news/new-readers-licensed.php
Oct 6, 2025 | News
Ely’s service for licensing and admission of Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) took place on Saturday 4 October 2025.
There were seven newly licensed lay ministers – Anne Carter, Angela Deavall, Julie Hughes, Simon Kershaw, Stewart Piper, Raine Thorold and Trevor Webb.
To listen to their stories, click here
Five of the LLMs received the John Hullock Award – Fiona Davis, David Ogilvie, Nigel Smith, Tony White and David Williams,
Celebrating 25+ years of their ministry in the Diocese of Ely were Kate Aylmer, Malcom Barrett, Maria Dorman and Jan Payne. In addition, Cyril Dodd celebrated 45+ years of ministry, but was unfortunately not able to join us for the service.
Sep 28, 2025 | News
On Sunday 28 September, St Albans celebrated the licensing of six candidates to Reader ministry in a special service at St Albans Cathedral. The new readers were formally admitted and licensed in the service led by Bishop Jane, marking the beginning of their public ministry of preaching, teaching and pastoral care.
Family and friends of the new Readers, and supporters from across the Diocese gathered for the occasion. Hymns included Be thou my Vision and How Great Thou Art, with readings from two of the candidates, Dawn Kerridge and Simon Trundle, including the Gospel Reading from Matthew 18 featuring the reminder from Jesus’ teaching to have humble, child-like faith.
Reader Tom Otley from St Paul’s, Bedford, spoke at the service, sharing about the unique calling and opportunity that comes with being a Reader in the Church of England:
“Today is a day of celebration, a day that we can carry with us through the following months and years… [Being a Reader is] a great responsibility and great privilege.”
The congregation heard some stories from two Readers to give an insight into Reader ministry. Firstly Gillian Kern, Reader and Prison Chaplain at HMP The Mount, shared about her delight to serve as part of a multi-faith team at the prison, including leading worship and offering practical and pastoral support to inmates. Gillian shared that her greatest joy involved the positive change she sees in those individuals through the support they receive, and also of the peace of the Holy Spirit and a calmness which becomes so apparent in times of great challenge.
Bill Webb, who was one of the Readers licensed on Sunday, shared the story of what led him to Reader ministry:
“I came to belief later in life. Alongside starting to attend my local church in Leighton Buzzard, I went on a trip to Jerusalem and God started to do his work in me. Over the years, a succession of different vicars and curates at the church suggested that I might have a vocation but a lot of the time I pushed back on that. Eventually, I had to accept that God might have something for me, and here I am.”
Bishop Jane shared her thanks to all those gathered who are part of Reader ministry, past, present and future:
“The ministry of the Diocese is so much the richer for your ministries. So thank you for each and every way that you minister, whether that’s in a prison, a school, hospital, in a work place, in the church, or anywhere else, thank you for all that you give and all that you are.”
If you weren’t able to make the service, you can watch the recording here.
New Readers
- Sumitra Donaldson-Small: Leagrave, St Luke
- Barbara Doye: Wheathampstead, St Helen and St Peter
- Adrian Groves: Hitchin and St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry, St Mark
- Dawn Kerridge: Potton with Sutton and Cockayne Hatley, St Mary, All Saints and St John the Baptist
- Simon Trundle: Watford, St Luke
- William (Bill) Webb: Ouzel Valley Team Ministry, All Saints Leighton Buzzard
More photos available here
https://www.stalbansdiocese.org/news/admission-licensing-of-readers-september-2025/
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