Diocese of Durham

Forty years of workplace chaplaincy at Gateshead’s @_Metrocentre! 🎉 Bishop Rick joined past and present chaplains last week to celebrate four decades of pastoral care for staff at the UK’s first out-of-town shopping centre chaplaincy. He gave thanks for its service, prayed for staff, businesses and visitors, and encouraged the Church’s continued presence alongside people in their everyday working lives. Read more 👉 bit.ly/4ekS091

Congratulations to The Venerable Stephen Edmonds who was installed as Archdeacon of Auckland during a special service of Evensong at @durhamcathedral yesterday evening 🎉

Yesterday afternoon, the Bishop of Durham took his seat in the House of Lords. Bishop Rick swore a parliamentary Oath of Allegiance and was supported in his introduction by the Bishop of Leicester, The Rt Revd Martyn Snow and the Bishop of Hereford, The Rt Revd Richard Jackson. Read more / watch full video 👉 bit.ly/4zYVYMQ

“I’m really excited to see what God is going to do across the Diocese in the work of transformation." Following his announcement on Friday, the Revd Dr Jitesh Patel introduces himself and explains why he feels privileged to have been appointed as the next Bishop of Jarrow.

And the final few stops on the tour… a visit to @stnicsdurham before meeting with staff and students from @cranmerhall and Lindisfarne College of Theology before ending the day with Evensong at @durhamcathedral.

After being given a warm welcome at Christ the King, Bowburn, the Revd Dr Jitesh Patel visited Cuthbert House to meet with Diocesan staff members.

Our Bishop of Jarrow designate, the Revd Dr Jitesh Patel, has had a busy morning so far, first of all meeting school pupils, staff and members of the local community at St Oswald’s Hebburn before heading to House of Hope Thornley to learn more about the wonderful work they do.

Downing Street has today announced that the Reverend Dr Jitesh Patel has been appointed the next Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow following approval by His Majesty the King. Jitesh will be Consecrated at York Minster on 8 December. Read more here: durhamdiocese.org/diocesan-n…

Clergy from across our Diocese gathered today at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham for our Clergy Conference. A day of worship and learning, it has been an opportunity to reflect together, be challenged in our thinking and explore how we can grow as churches of missional disciples, sharing the good news of Jesus and inspiring the next generations to discover faith.

Congratulations to the Revd Rich Grant who was licensed on 12 October as SSM Priest in Charge of St Chad’s Bensham. Please keep Rich in your prayers as him and the team from Alive Church begin this exciting revitalisation work 🎉🙏

Voting has taken place to elect the Diocese of Durham’s representatives to General Synod for the forthcoming five-year term. Congratulations to the successful candidates: House of Clergy: 1. The Revd Simon McMurtary 2. The Revd Canon Mark Miller 3. The Revd Donna Robinson 4. The Revd Canon Matthew Tarling House of Laity: 1. Mrs Hanna Lucas 2. Mrs Helen Smith 3. Dr Richard Scothon 4. Dr Guy Wingate

Congratulations to the Revd John Mayes who was licensed as SSM Associate Priest of St John's Church Gateshead Fell and St Alban's, Windy Nook on 11 October. Please keep John in your prayers as he takes on this new role 🎉🙏

Congratulations to the Revd John Hinton was licensed on 4 October as Curate in Hillside parish. Please keep John in your prayers as he takes on this new role 🎉🙏

An active youth set-up was already established at @HillsideCOE but with a group of teenagers heading off to university, church leaders had to find ways of reaching out to the next wave of children and young people. @Youthscape's Launchpad programme helped the parish make the most of its existing resources and tailor it’s youth provision around what best suited the local community. Read more 👉 bit.ly/3UjKxA5

Congratulations to the Revd Canon Adrian Gatrill who was licensed as our new Director of Ordinands and Vocations yesterday by Bishop Rick during a special service in the chapel at Cuthbert House. Adrian has been involved in the discernment process at both local and national level for over 20 years and has been Durham’s Acting DDO for the past year. Adrian said of his appointment, “I am excited to move into this new season of ministry and am looking forward to continuing to work with colleagues in the Growing Leadership Team.”

JOB ALERT! The Bishop of Durham is looking to appoint an Interim Mission and Community Missioner for Chester-le-Street. More / apply 👉 bit.ly/4y8Gbte #ChurchJobs #ChristianJobs #ClergyJobs

The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) and many of our Inspecting Architects recently spent the day visiting five churches in the Teesdale area as part of their annual ‘Tour of Churches’. During the day they visited St Mary’s Piercebridge, St Edwin’s Coniscliffe, St Mary’s Staindrop, St Mary’s Barnard Castle and St Mary the Virgin Middleton in Teesdale.

Communities Together Durham @togetherdurham distributed 23 holiday club grants across Durham Diocese this summer, helping churches to provide activities, food, friendship and opportunities for children and families to explore faith during the school holidays. One of the churches to benefit was St Cuthbert’s Darlington, which welcomed 43 children aged 6–12 to its three-day Kingdom Builders summer holiday club. Read more 👉 bit.ly/4ANnvSE

We’re delighted to introduce to you the latest addition to our Growing Leadership Team – Dr Hanna Lucas. Hanna is our new Ministry Experience Volunteer Enabler and will oversee the MEV Scheme - a 10-month gap year opportunity for young adult volunteers, aged 18 to 30, to explore Christian vocation, leadership and discipleship. Read more 👉 bit.ly/3TGbsph

Revd Anita Burke, Priest in Charge of Christ Church New Seaham, has taken on a chaplaincy role with the Royal British Legion @PoppyLegion, serving the Seaham branch where she will support current military personnel, veterans and other people with links to the armed forces. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/47rA4p6