3 July 2026
The Diocesan Lay Ministry Celebration Service is taking place this Sunday (5 July) at 3.30pm at Chelmsford Cathedral.
The service – led by The Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford - is an opportunity for us to gather as a Diocese and celebrate the variety of Lay Ministries in our places of worship, communities and schools across Essex and East London.
The preacher is Canon Caroline Harding, Diocesan Lay Ministry Adviser, Warden of Readers and Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in the Harlow deanery.
During the service Bishop Guli will license a new LLM - Nicky Sirett who will serve at St John the Evangelist, Colchester.
LLMs are theologically trained, and their role involves working alongside ordained ministers and other lay leaders in their church community. They have a clear leadership role and can use their leadership skills in a variety of ways, as an adult educator – training or mentoring other lay ministries, focusing Christian nurture or as someone who attends to the connection between faith and daily life.
Pastoral Assistants and Spiritual Companions will also be authorised at the service.
Pastoral Assistants offer pastoral care in the church and wider community. They are people who have a passion for communicating the message of Christ to others through caring action.
Spiritual Companions are trained, authorised Anglicans who meet with others to listen attentively, help them discern God’s guidance and encourage them in their journey of prayer and faith.
Speaking ahead of the service, Bishop Guli said:
“Our annual Lay Ministry Celebration is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a diocesan family and give thanks for the many people who faithfully serve God and their church communities through a variety of lay ministries. It is a particular joy this year to license Nicky as a new Lay Minister, and to authorise our new Pastoral Assistants and Spiritual Companions. I am deeply grateful for the commitment, gifts and dedication that they each bring. Please join me in praying for them as they begin their new ministries.”
Canon Caroline added:
“The ministry of lay ministers is part of the lifeblood of our Church, and without the vital part they play, the Church could not carry out God’s Mission: to make the Gospel known through our words and actions, and to help realise the Kingdom of God here on earth.
“Our Diocesan Lay Ministry Celebration Service is a wonderful opportunity to come together and pray for all lay ministries, giving thanks for the dedicated service of so many volunteers.”
Meet our new Licensed Lay Minister
Nicky Sirett - St John the Evangelist, Colchester
Watch the service
Watch our Lay Ministry Celebration Service
Our new Pastoral Assistants
Our new Pastoral Assistants who will be authorised at the service are:
- Diedre Schnaar - St Nicolas Witham & Villages, & St Andrews Hatfield Peverel
- Petrina Tointon - St Nicolas Witham & Villages
- Rosemary Clark - All Saints Stock Harvard
- Joy Ann Hawkins - All Saints Woodford Wells
- Juliet Shipton - Billericay & Little Burstead Churches
- Runayaro Makoni - St Philips, St James & St Marys Churches Plaistow
- Catherine Greenidge - St Edmunds Church Chingford
Our new Spiritual Companions
New Spiritual Companions will be authorised at the service.
Share your photos
If you are attending the celebration service, we would love to see your photos. Share them with us by tagging @chelmsdio on social media with the hashtag #CelebratingLayMinistry.
Lay ministry in our Diocese
There are a wide variety of lay ministries in our diocese. For more details about lay ministry options, training and resources visit lay ministry page of our website or contact Canon Caroline Harding, our Diocesan Lay Ministry Adviser and Warden of Readers.
For the latest news, resources, information and stories about Vocations in Chelmsford Diocese follow @ChelmsDioVocations on Instagram.