Diocese of Portsmouth

Readers from across the diocese gathered to reaffirm their vows of ministry

Licensed Lay Ministers

Licensed Lay Ministers, also known as Readers, are lay people, called by God, trained and licensed by the Church, to preach, teach, lead worship and assist in pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work.

There are around 150 Licensed Lay Ministers in our diocese working with clergy and churchgoers in communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to take Christ’s love out to those who do not yet know him. Only by working together can we hope to see God’s kingdom realised.

These six Readers were licensed in our cathedral in June 2024

New Licensed Lay Ministers to be licensed

This year, six new Licensed Lay Ministers have been licensed. They are:

  • Will Clarke (to serve at Ventnor and Bonchurch),
  • Lindsey Crowhurst, Kathryn England, and Matt Lockwood (all Crofton parish),
  • Tim Fitzgeorge (Crookhorn) and
  • Sandra Rampton (St Luke’s, Southsea)

They are pictured above with Bishop Geoff Annas, who licensed them in our cathedral in June 2024

Click below for:

visit the National Church’s Reader website