News Stories
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26 March 2024
in Latest NewsThe Bishop of Penrith’s Easter Message 2024
In his Easter message, the Bishop of Penrith reflects on how God breathes new life into dust and dirt, making it glorious again.
In opening his Easter message, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, who is also the Acting Bishop of Carlisle, references the poem Ash Wednesday by Jan Richardson.
Bishop Rob says: “In it she talks about how things and people, which can feel like dust and dirt, are made glorious and beautiful by what God does with them. God does amazing things with dust.”
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25 March 2024
in Latest NewsNew Archdeacon of Carlisle Appointed
A vicar who was born and raised in Cumbria, later serving her curacy in the county, is to be the new Archdeacon of Carlisle.
The Rev Ruth Newton will take up the post in August, succeeding the Ven Richard Pratt who will retire at the end of March. She will take responsibility for the Deaneries of Carlisle, Brampton, Penrith and Appleby.
For Ruth it means a return to her home county, having been brought up in Carlisle, later working in the city and - following her ordination in 2002 - serving the parishes of Caldbeck, Castle Sowerby and Sebergham. She is currently serving as a Vicar near Ripon. Read more -
19 March 2024
in Latest NewsArchdeacon of Carlisle’s Thanksgiving Service
Scores of people attended a special Evensong celebrating the ministry of the Archdeacon of Carlisle who is soon to retire.
The Ven Richard Pratt will step down from the role at the end of March after more than 26 years serving the Diocese of Carlisle in various roles.
On Sunday night people gathered at St Mary’s Harrington for the special service to thank Richard and his wife Diane for all their years of ministry.
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14 March 2024
in Latest NewsDiocese supports ‘Caring for the Carers’ project for a second year
More than 30 health and social care staff will benefit from special free ‘Caring for the Carers’ days to be run in the Lake District this year, supported by the Diocese of Carlisle.
The scheme is a collaborative project between the Diocese and the Sacred Space Foundation - a non-profit, non-denominational retreat centre and charitable trust in Cumbria - and builds on the success of previous retreat and residential days which have benefited 80 carers.
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5 March 2024
in Latest NewsDiocese awarded nearly £600,000 to support mission and ministry
The Diocese of Carlisle has been awarded nearly £600,000 by the Church Commissioners to further support mission and ministry across Cumbria.
The money will fund the creation of a new church planting lead role for the next three years, plus the appointment of a new Archdeacon of Carlisle, and a post focusing on growing vocations to ministry in the local church. It will also provide continued project management support for the next year.
The new Archdeacon of Carlisle will continue to act as a Strategy Development Officer as part of our ecumenical county’s God for All vision and strategy. Details of the successful bid application will be discussed by Diocesan Synod members at their meeting this Saturday (9 March).
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25 Jan. 2024
in Latest NewsBronze eco award for Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle has gained a bronze eco award in recognition of its environmental focus.
A Rocha UK - a Christian charity working to protect and restore the natural world –presented the award after the Diocese worked on environmental projects at its head office in Penrith as well as encouraging churches across Cumbria to register as Eco Churches.
It comes just weeks after work was also completed on the Diocese’s first eco vicarage in the village of Natland, near Kendal.
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24 Jan. 2024
in Latest NewsDiocese strengthens mission partnership agreement
The Diocese of Carlisle has strengthened ties with an international partner to support mission and ministry across Cumbria.
For more than 15 years the Diocese has partnered with the Norwegian Mission Society (NMS), particularly around its Network Youth Church initiative which engages with hundreds of young people in the county and the introduction of international missionaries.
This week, the Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, signed a new six-year partnership agreement with NMS. It will see continued working together in mission, resourcing local ministry and shared learning. For 2024 to 2026, NMS are funding a new Children’s and Families worker role to help grow new church communities, as well as supporting the Diocesan interns’ scheme and Network Youth Church.
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18 Jan. 2024
in Latest NewsDiocese welcomes Argentinian link team
A six-strong delegation from the Diocese of Northern Argentina is touring Cumbria as part of special link visit.
The group arrived in Cumbria on Tuesday, having left temperatures of over 30 degrees to face snow and freezing conditions in Cumbria. The visit strengthens ties between the Dioceses of Carlisle and Northern Argentina, which have been in place since 1995.
The Argentine group is led by the Rev Dany Lescano, Vicar General in Northern Argentina, who is acting Bishop following the retirement of the Rt Rev Nick Drayson last May. Read more -
9 Jan. 2024
in Latest NewsDiocese completes work on first Net Carbon Zero vicarage
Work has been completed on the Diocese of Carlisle’s first Net Carbon Zero vicarage.
Five months ago, the Diocese purchased a property in Natland, just south of Kendal, as a replacement for the village’s existing Victorian vicarage.
Work has since been undertaken to install a new air source heat pump, pressurised water heating system, solar panels on the roof and battery storage to improve efficiency and provide two thirds of the electricity supply, increased insulation in the roof space and new external doors. Read more -
5 Jan. 2024
in Latest NewsThe Archdeacon of Carlisle Announces His Retirement
The Archdeacon of Carlisle, the Ven Richard Pratt, has announced he is to retire at the end of March.
Richard has served in Cumbria for more than 26 years, initially as Priest-in-Charge of St Cuthbert’s with St Mary’s in Carlisle from 1997 before his appointment as Archdeacon of West Cumberland in 2009.
From 2020 he served as Associate Archdeacon of West Cumberland whilst also holding parochial duties for Maryport, before his appointment as Archdeacon of Carlisle last year.
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