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/