Volunteers give their time to help others

Volunteers within the Church of England who give their time to help others are helping to revitalise communities within Suffolk.

People of all ages in towns and villages will benefit from initiatives supported by the volunteers.

Eight lay ministers who cover parishes including Bury St Edmunds, Beccles and Ipswich were appointed in a moving service in front of their friends and families at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, on 24 September.

Bishop Martin Seeley said: "We are incredibly grateful to lay ministers who alongside so many give their time to help others, making a difference to our Suffolk communities and young people in our county.”

Among the volunteers is a former head teacher with a passion for helping young people. Kate Cracknell spent 20 years in school leadership, finishing as head at The Limes Primary Academy, Oulton, near Lowestoft.  She is now a youth minister based in Beccles and she said: "It is a real privilege to serve young people in this place and I am looking forward to realising our Growing Younger goals as a parish."  This is an initiative to   encourage younger people to become interested in their church and help them thrive in their community.

Lizzie Baker, a Reader based at Suffolk Heights which covers six villages in the Chedburgh area, near Bury St Edmunds, said she was delighted to be fulfilling an aspiration that had developed over the last few years to help in local communities. 

Deborah Walker is also a Reader, based in Bury St Edmunds, and she said: "St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds welcomed us when we retired nearby, but I wasn’t sure at first what I could offer.  After helping with online services during the Covid pandemic, our vicar suggested Reader training and I realised that this was a continuation of the bible study leading that I had done for many years in Brussels. It has been challenging and academically rigorous, but stimulating, and I have engaged with many inspiring people."

Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, said: "The lay ministers of Suffolk are a vital resource in the nurture and growth of benefices in our beautiful county. We were delighted to welcome them to the Cathedral and not only licence new ministers, but also to renew existing ministers in their calling."

 Factfile:

The new Readers, who are not ordained but are licensed to lead worship, are: Katherine Drakes, who will serve Great Barton and Thurston; James Sephton, who will serve Elmsett with Aldham, Hintlesham, Chattisham and Kersey; Elizabeth Baker, who will serve Suffolk Heights and Deborah Walker, who will serve Bury St Edmunds St Mary with St Peter District Church.

The new licensed Youth Minister is Kate Cracknell, who will serve Beccles with Worlingham, North Cove and Barnby.

The new Children’s and Families’ Ministers, who work alongside their church and community in a variety of ways including toddler groups, children’s clubs and Messy Church, are: Lyanne Brendt, who will serve Ipswich St Thomas; Sarah Parker-McGhee, who will serve Boxford, Edwardstone, Groton, Little Waldingfield and Newton, and Karin Stubbington, who will serve South Hartismere.

Pictures: By Keith Mindham.