Bishop of Norwich joins Commissioners’ board
THE Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, has been elected by the House of Bishops to the Board of Governors of the Church Commissioners. He replaces the Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Christine Hardman, who retired on 30 November (General Synod, 26 November). The Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, who is deputy chair of the Commissioners, said: “This position fits well with his existing role as lead bishop for the environment.”
BRF appoints new Messy Church lead
THE Christian mission charity BRF has appointed Aike Kennett-Brown as its new ministry lead for Messy Church. Ms Kennett-Brown has been involved in Messy Church since 2010, having started volunteer-led Messy Church in south-east London. She became a mission support officer for the diocese of Southwark in 2017. Ms Kennett-Brown will take up her new post at the beginning of BRF’s centenary year in January.
Bishop of Ely to be Acting Bishop of Lincoln
THE Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, is to be Acting Bishop of Lincoln from 1 January, after the retirement of the Rt Revd Christopher Lowson this month (General Synod, 26 November). The Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to the diocese last month announcing the details. The arrangement will initially be for one year, after which it will be reviewed.
Fifty-nine confirmed in St Fagan’s, Aberdare
FIFTY-TWO children and seven adults were confirmed in St Fagan’s, Aberdare, in south Wales, on Sunday, in its largest confirmation service to date. The service was led by the Bishop of Llandaff, the Rt Revd June Osborne, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams. The Vicar of St Fagan’s, the Revd Richard Green, said: “With 59 people to confirm, we needed the assistance of two bishops. We have always attracted young people to our parish because we have a strong emphasis on youth and children’s work. . . We began online confirmation classes last year during lockdown, and have had to wait a whole year before we could have the service in church. Seeing the smile on everyone’s face made the wait even more worth while.”