A NEW director was today unveiled to take charge of Portsmouth’s unique centre for training clergy and lay ministers.

The Rev Dr Richard Wyld, who is currently chaplain to the Bishop of Portsmouth, was announced today as the new Director of Portsmouth Pathway. The announcement was made jointly by Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and the Diocese of Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Pathway, which is based at St Luke’s Church, Southsea, is an integral pathway of Ripon College, Cuddesdon, near Oxford, one of the Church of England's oldest and largest centres of ministerial training,

The Pathway has been running since 2015 and trains students to become clergy and lay ministers, also known as Readers. It combines academic theology and the development of skills for ministry in parishes and chaplaincies, formatting ministers of character and resilience to serve the mission and ministry of the Church..

Richard has been serving as acting director of Portsmouth Pathway alongside his work as bishop’s chaplain, since his predecessor, the Rev Dr James Grenfell, left the role. Alongside his new position leading Portsmouth Pathway, Richard will also be responsible for the continued training of curates in the three years after their ordination as clergy.

Bishop Humphrey Southern, Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon, said: “We are delighted to announce Richard’s appointment. He brings to the role unrivalled knowledge of the diocese and its needs, to match his skills and experience as a teacher and educator.

“Recently and currently, Richard has been serving as acting director of the Pathway and we look forward to the continuing development of the Pathway in the training of ordinands and Readers from the diocese and surrounding area over the coming years.

“Alongside leading the Pathway, and as a complementary role, Richard will be responsible for continuing curate training within the diocese, as IME 4-7 officer.”

When the Portsmouth Pathway was launched in September 2015, it was the first time that ordination training had been offered in this area. The teaching takes place on Tuesday evenings during term time and at some weekends.

This pattern of non-residential training enables students who are working full-time or part-time to train for ministry. One of the virtues of the course is that Readers-in-training and ordinands study together and so experience and recognise the benefits of deeply collaborative ministry.

The director is supported by a range of academic tutors drawn from the Diocese of Portsmouth and beyond, and by fellow members of the Cuddesdon academic staff. The Tuesday evening sessions at St Luke’s include a shared meal, worship led by the students, and more formal learning.

There are also residential weekends at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, for both ordinands and Readers-in-training. In addition, ordinands have one residential week at Cuddesdon per year. The periods of residential study enable periods of more intensive study and enable students to learn alongside those from other dioceses who are also preparing for public ministry.

The three-year course leads either to a Higher Education Certificate or Diploma both of which are accredited by Durham University.