The 99Th Bishop of Lichfield the Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave Has St Chad, a Man of Great Humility and Profound Been Named As the Next Bishop of Lichfield
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Diocese of Lichfield Magazine Mar/Apr 2016 The 99th Bishop of Lichfield The Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave has St Chad, a man of great humility and profound been named as the next Bishop of Lichfield. Christian faith.” Bishop Michael (57), the current Bishop of His appointment was announced on 2 March Woolwich in the Diocese of Southwark, will be and was greeted in Wolverhampton by Bishop the ninety-ninth Bishop of Lichfield, in a line Clive: “A year ago on St Chad’s Day, Bishop going back to St Chad in the seventh century. Jonathan announced his retirement as Bishop of Lichfield. Today, on St Chad’s Day, we can In a personal welcome message to the Diocese, share the wonderful news that Bishop Michael is Bishop Michael says “I’ve had twelve wonderful joining us here in the West Midlands. He brings years in London but I am so looking forward to with him a rare combination of gifts, as theo- coming back to the Midlands. Lichfield is the logian and teacher, pastor and mission enabler, mother church of the Midlands, and the city of which will greatly enrich our life as a Diocese.” Next to Little Drayton, to meet the Lord The Right Reverend Michael Geoffrey Ipgrave Welcome, Bishop Michael Lieutenant of Shropshire, volunteers at the OBE, MA, PhD grew up in a small village in Market Drayton Food Bank and CAP, clergy Northamptonshire. He studied mathematics Following the announce- of Hodnet Deanery chapter and the team at Oriel College, Oxford, and trained for the ment of Bishop Michael's behind the ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford appointment on the 10 new ‘TGI after a year working as a labourer in a factory Downing Street website, Monday in Birmingham. He was ordained Deacon in Bishop Michael made a Show’ led 1982 in the Diocese of Peterborough. whistle-stop tour of the by the diocese, beginning by Diocese of After more than twenty years’ ministry meeting staff and clients Lichfield’s in Leicestershire and Japan, he became of the YMCA Black Country Online Archdeacon of Southwark in 2004. and Canon with Bishop Clive in Pastor: Missioner at Southwark Cathedral from 2010 Wolverhampton as well as Debs Walton of Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries which works to 2012, Chair of the Southwark and London members of the media. closely with the YMCA Black Country reflected: “We’ve had some Diocesan Housing Association. Prior to this brilliant conversations with the non-Christian staff he had been Inter Faith Relations Adviser to as a result of the visit, many of whom were deeply the Archbishops’ Council and Secretary of the moved that this important man chose to start his Churches’ Commission on Inter Faith relations. new job by listening to them talk about their work. He was awarded the OBE in 2011 for services The fact that he wants to inter faith relations in London. Since 2012 to come back to find he has been Area Bishop of Woolwich in the out more was really Diocese of Southwark. He chairs the Council important for them. of Christians and Jews, and is co-Chair of the One person said it Anglican-Lutheran Society and of the Church was the first time of England’s Mission Theology Advisory Group. that they had realised that Christians would Bishop Michael is married to Dr Julia Ipgrave, offer love and encour- Finally, it being St Chad's a Senior Research Fellow in the Department agement to people Day he went to Lichfiield of Humanities at Roehampton University. They who are working hard in difficult Cathedral and was prayed have three grown up sons, one with a German circumstances. “ for by the Dean, the Very and one with a Russian wife, and have just Revd Adrian Dorber. He become grandparents. Then a dash up the And in anticipation of the was welcomed by, and M6 through the annual walk of witness by addressed, the Greater Michael and Julia are enthusiastic about sleet to Stoke, where he met combined churches across Cathedral Chapter before things Japanese. They enjoy walking, and are clergy and clients of the Sanctus refugee Newcastle-Under-Lyme attending looking forward to exploring Staffordshire project at St Mark's church Shelton: and Stoke-on-Trent, he a special and Shropshire on foot. He is a supporter of pinned service of Leicester City FC. a yellow Evensong ribbon which to the included Sentinel the St Cross. Chad's Day commemoration of Benefactors and the installation of three new Prebendaries. Follow us on Twitter @Lichfield_CofE 2 Regular updates on our website www.lichfield.anglican.org 3 Join our Facebook Group “The Church of England’s Diocese of Lichfield” United in love Flushed with success “We were on our honeymoon, and I was “Through the church, God has stripped people Worshippers at St Bertelin’s Church in “People collected pennies…and tuppences, listening to a podcast by the pool, hearing back, and matured them - you can see that in Stafford could not imagine what it would fivepences and ten pence pieces, all of which about what God is doing all over the world, the way people interact. There are a lot of single be like not to have anywhere private, safe were counted, checked and bagged…and we and this chap was talking about Immanuel men who are over there to make money, and and hygienic to “spend a penny” when eventually managed to twin our church toilets church, Fujairah. It was interesting but suffer with loneliness, so also a real sense that they needed to. So, when they heard about with 14 toilets throughout the world. nothing more. Then it turned out Ash knew the church is their family. There is a hunger to people living in communities in the devel- this guy’s wife. So we began chatting to know God more, especially among the poorer oping world didn’t have access to safe and “Toilet Twinning provides people in the poorest them out of interest and it snowballed.” expat labourers.” clean toilets, they thought they would do communities on the planet with a decent toilet, something about it. clean water and all the information they need Kieran and Ashley McKnight are going to the “You see the power of the gospel in the church, to stay healthy. It’s the key to helping whole United Arab Emirates in September, working bringing all these nations together, united “We decided to twin the toilets at St Bertelin’s communities break free of the poverty trap. in non-salaried posts as Pastoral Assistant and in their love of Jesus, though they wouldn’t Church with a toilet in the developing world Women’s Ministry Co-ordinator in Immanuel normally be friends or even cross paths. through a charity called Toilet Twinning” said “Children are healthier, and able to go to school; church, Fujairah. Revd Elaine Evans, vicar of St Bertelin, Stafford. parents are well enough to work their land and “We’ll be working grow enough food to feed their family. With “We went out to mostly on a “The initial target was to twin two toilets, but better health, and more ability to earn a living, visit in December. one-to-one as that target was soon met, we decided to men and women discover the potential that lies Fujairah is a lot basis, facili- keep going, fundraising through donations at within them to bring transformation.” more remote tating people’s Christmas, the proceeds from our Lent Lunches, and traditional study, helping and selling the fresh produce given to the than some of the them know and church at Harvest time. St Bertelin’s Church with their toilet twinning certificates better known understand the Emirates. It’s the Bible. We’ll also only mountainous be building region in the relationships with Emirates, a city the local commu- of about 200,000 nity. There’s an and forecast to obvious need - grow rapidly. We the church is keen went in the winter and switched on, and the tempera- many go on from ture was in the high 20s! their meetings to a theology lunch and further study, and we will be able to put the time to “After that we took some time to think and seek train and guide people. The church is two years God. I think we already knew, but we had to old and already planning and praying about make sure the excitement didn’t cool off. planting other churches on the coast. “It is very multi-cultural, like the whole world “Between now and September, we are hoping to in one place. But Indians tend to spend time visit churches who believe in what we’re doing, with Indians, Pakistanis with Pakistanis and so and might offer prayer support.” on. There doesn’t seem to be much mixing or integration. In the church it’s a different story. To sign up for news from Kieran and Ashley and There are about 20 nationalities in the church, follow their journey, or to invite them to your all worshipping together and sharing their lives. church, contact them on [email protected] Follow us on Twitter @Lichfield_CofE 4 Regular updates on our website www.lichfield.anglican.org 5 Join our Facebook Group “The Church of England’s Diocese of Lichfield” Royal Maundy Money In the name of the Father Every year, Her Majesty The Queen presents until failing sight and reduced mobility led her The glass bowl was hand-blown with waves of special ‘Maundy money’ to local pensioners to retire in 2014. She is an Associate of the Iona cobalt blue weaving through clear glass by glass in a UK cathedral or abbey.