Record numbers of people are beginning training for ministry this autumn. Seven were licensed as Lay Ministers last weekend, many graduates from the Chad Foundations course which sees an unprecedented 39 begin this month. And 18 potential clergy also begin ordination training this month.
A slightly abridged version of Bishop Michael’s Presidential Address to July 2025’s Diocesan Synod
....about Artificial Intelliegence
Once legal steps are completed, the Bishop of Lichfield has announced that he intends to appoint the Revd Laura Lenander as Leader of Telford Minster
Church of England communications has issued the following response.
Prizes for Lichfield DIocese' golf team as the annual inter-diocesan heads for the nineteenth.
Apparently, Summer = Rest and relaxation. Two things most of us need more of according to Helen Scheven in this month's Chad Blog.
Finding deep peace in Tettenhall Church – the building, hymns & liturgy
On the way to gaining an Arocha Gold Eco Church award a Shropshire church may have struck more than one ‘pot of gold’. Oxon Parish Church, Shrewsbury, has been awarded ARocha’s 99th and Lichfield Diocese’s second Gold Eco Church Award.
Lichfield Cathedral hosted Lichfield Diocese's celebration of the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women as priests. Here is the Bishop of Shrewsbury's sermon.
The Blue Coat Infant and Junior schools, Walsall opened its own Special Educational Needs (SEN) unit, The Ark. Bishop Tim and Dorothy Buchanan MBE, a distinguished former Blue Coat Governor cut the (blue!) ribbon together to open The Ark.
Bishop Sarah has been offered a sabbatical by Bishop Michael and has accepted. She will be away from 1 October 2025 to 12 January 2026. Here is more information and whom to contact during that time.
Our eight new deacons for 2025, ordained on 28 June, look back at how they were called and offer pointers to those who think ordination (or another calling) might be for them.
Tour adaptations to accommodate people living with dementia
After marking 100 years of a city and 900 years of a village church, Bishop Matthew asks whether anniversaries and commemorations also asks questions too about the present and the future.
As we enjoy a week of sunshine, Revd Jeremy Oakley muses on Making Memories in this month's Chad Blog - specifically those made on youth camps at the diocesan outward bound/retreat centre at Dovedale
Following a discussion at May’s Bishop’s Council, this statement provides an update about the informal discussions in July’s Diocesan Synod requested by the National LLF team and the appointment of a new LLF Champion to offer support to parishes. The discussions will not go ahead in July and their form or whether they are scheduled for November’s Synod will be considered with input from the new LLF Champion.
Community connections and cake – “not just for people with dementia”
The vicar of Eccleshall brings a broad palette of skills and experience to the 'planning permission' part of caring for church buildings.
Church of England Pensions Board Investments has made known proposals for significant improvements to the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (CEPFS). If implemented, they will represent a significant step forward.
This morning, the House of Bishops agreed and published the following statement about the situation in Gaza:
Our Dementia Action Week prayer, affirming presence, thankfulness & love
Reader and diocesan environmental officer, Dr Jan Firth listens to ice, celebrates the Eco Church Awards received in the diocese in this month's Chad Blog
Bishop Michael was sorry to learn of the sudden and unexpected death in service of the Revd Preb John Baines and has written a brief tribute.
In this month's Chad Blog, Bishop Tim digs lessons from the farmyard and the late pope.
An experienced youth worker, now trained and ordained, is to take up the second of two key roles in Lichfield Diocese’s £5.9m project to start a new chapter in the church’s story in Stoke on Trent. The Revd Alan Gault, currently Planting Curate at St Luke’s, Blackburn will become Stoke’s Resource Church Leader based at All Saints Joiners Square.
The world is a busy place. And Our lives at church can be no different and it can be hard to find the time, or the energy to stop and think about anything, let alone our ‘calling’. We all have one. Even serving coffee is one. Helen Scheven from our Vocations team writes on slowing down and taking stock during Easter week in our latest Chad Blog.
On learning of the death of Pope Francis, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has made a statement.
Bishop Michael has appointed two Assistant Archdeacons of Lichfield. They will take up these temporary roles from Wednesday 26th March.
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