Published on: 01/09/2025
The 2025 Celebration of Lay Ministries will take place on Saturday 6 September at 1pm at Sheffield Cathedral. The Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, will lead a service which includes the licensing of 3 Readers, the first to be licensed in the Diocese since 2021.
We are delighted to introduce our new readers:
Joanne Mitchell
I moved to South Yorkshire 3 years ago, with my husband Tim, who is Priest In Charge of St Nicholas’, Thorne. There, I’ve had the opportunity to hear God’s call upon my life and test out my style of ministry. I love the scriptures and being able to open up God’s Word for others. I also love working within the community and had the joy of engaging with two of the local homes for people with neurodiverse conditions, creating and leading special church services for them, as well as bringing them into the main church family. I feel called to Reader ministry as it combines my love of scripture, bringing God’s Word to His people and living that out where he has placed me.
Julie Sandoval
I’ve been a Christian since I was about 17 when I heard the gospel for the first time and wondered why no one had told me this before!
I’ve always sought to follow God wholeheartedly and I’ve tried to follow the secret for happiness found in the hymn; ‘Trust and Obey’.
I’ve always sought to be useful in building God’s kingdom, doing a myriad of things – running youth groups; working in a youth club and speaking to the kids about Jesus; becoming a pastoral worker. I even ran a bible study group at work; (my colleagues had so much forbearance). I loved studying for the lay readers course at St Hild and I’m looking forward to being a Lay Reader.
Caro Staton
I was brought up in a Christian home and had my first encounter with the Holy Spirit when I was 14, after which I was confirmed. During my time at Oxford University, I had a deep, personal encounter with Jesus that showed me in no uncertain terms how much He loved me, and I haven’t looked back since. I moved to Sheffield in 1997, first worshipping at St Thomas’ Crookes where I met my husband Tim, and then moving to St Luke’s Lodge Moor, where I was encouraged to test out a calling to preaching which ultimately led to training to be a Lay Reader. I am passionate about helping others encounter God on a deep, personal level through worship, prayer, preaching and through leading services.
The Vocations Fair will take place after the service from 2.30-3.30pm. All are invited to come along to talk to representatives from a range of ministries about how God might calling them.
Find out more about Reader Ministry and Training: https://www.sheffield.anglican.org/support/ministry/reader-ministry/ Information about the Celebration of Lay Ministry and Vocations Fair on 6th September: https://www.sheffield.anglican.org/event/celebration-of-lay-ministries-2025/