This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 17 November 2014. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
The Door introduces the 11 new Lay Ministers who were licensed in a service in Oxford's Cathedral at Christ Church recently. Helen BroadbentHelen has lived and worshipped in Slough for over thirty years.
She works part-time as an Optometrist and loves the interaction with people that this brings.
She has been involved in a variety of ways at St Paul's Slough, from teaching in Sunday School to catering for various church events.
She particularly enjoys leading and taking part in small group Bible studies, and is excited about sharing the truths of the Bible for 21st century living.
Helen is married and has three daughters and two grandsons. Sara BedwellSara is licensed to serve at St Andrew's, Linton Road, Oxford.
She says "Some years ago I started serving in the ministry to the elderly in our congregation.
To become better equipped I started formal Bible study.
Serving as a Licensed Lay Minister has been a natural progression.
I have been practising as a solicitor for 35 years. " Sara has three adult children. Judith HoggJudith, who is licensed to serve in Goring and Streatley with South Stoke says, "Whilst at university I came to a living faith in Jesus, and ever since I have been actively involved in church with my husband.
For over 40 years we were at Greyfriars, Reading.
After retiring from teaching maths I studied theology as a hobby at both Wycliffe Hall and Heythrop College, but during this time God challenged me to join my local village church and use my teaching skills as an LLM. "Peter IbisonPeter says: "I was born in Southport and grew up in the North West of England before moving to London in 1986 to work in the telecommunications industry.
Both my wife Margaret and I have been worshipping at St Leonard's in Chesham Bois for the past 17 years and have been training to be licensed as LLMs, building on our theological education through the Open Theological College.
I am excited about what God is doing in and through the Church today and feel privileged to serve as an LLM. "Mary LeeMary, of Holy Trinity Penn, is a practising solicitor, and has been involved in her parish (now a United Benefice with St Margaret's Tylers Green) for many years in various roles including PCC membership and as a Deanery Representative.
Married with two grown-up daughters she has found the LLM training inspiring and challenging and is looking forward to her new role as an LLM. Penny CranePenny says: "Although I first started worshipping at the United Reformed Church in Maidenhead, I have worshipped at St George's, Owlsmoor and College Town, since 1988, where I started my ministry by running the toddler group. Having preached since 2007, I have found such inspiration in spreading the good news of Jesus, that I want other people to be able to share in all that God has given us. "Annie CooperAnnie has long been part of the Church, as a Sunday school teacher, youth leader, churchwarden and lay chair, but began to get involved in leading worship about 15 years ago alongside a friend in training to be an LLM.
Annie is a wife, mother and grandmother and had a career which took her to stately homes and to prison! Having now retired she has thoroughly enjoyed the training made available to all of us in this diocese and is looking forward to continuing to serve in the Cottesloe Team. Oludolapo OgunbawoDolapo was born and raised in Nigeria, relocated to Berkshire in 2004 when she joined Holy Trinity Sunningdale.
"I served on various ministry teams before starting LLM training in the spring of 2011.
A teacher by profession, retired from the Institute of Education, London I am currently working as an independent consultant in education," says Dolapo. John HardcastleJohn is widowed, with three children and two grandchildren.
He plans to marry Pat in December.
He has been engaged in various forms of Christian service for over 40 years and has recently completed training for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
John used to work in the finance department at Diocesan Church House. Michael FrancesconMichael is from the Sunninghill and South Ascot Parish.
He is a civil engineer.
He found LLM training very rewarding but quite a challenge on top of full time work commitments.
He valued the support and encouragement of his wife, the vicar and all in the church during training and looks forward to serving in his new role. Terry Ward-HallTerry says: "After 11 years as an authorised preacher being licensed in the Cathedral with my incumbent, family, friends and church family supporters present was a wonderful way to celebrate the conclusion of my training period and to mark the start of this new phase in my ministry at Holy Trinity Sunningdale.
Back, from left: Penny Crane, Judith Hogg, Mary Lee, John Hardcastle, the Revd Dr Phillip Tovey, Michael Francescon.
Middle: Bishop Colin,Sara Bedwell, Helen Broadbent, Pete Ibison.
Bottom: Annie Cooper, Oludolapo Ogunbawo and Terry Ward-Hall. Jo Duckles.