News Stories
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2 Nov. 2024
Major investment will help diocese to rejuvenate
The national Church of England has endorsed our diocese’s strategic plans for the next five years, offering an investment of more than £1m a year towards our projects. The diocese’s vision and strategy aims to rejuvenate our diocese by a programme that includes reviving our leadership to inspire mission, revitalising our parishes to create pathways to discipleship and renewing our diocese with church plants and new worshipping communities. Read more
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1 Nov. 2024
We’ll study, eat, pray and lament together
Clergy and lay leaders in the Western Wards of Fareham are already meeting to eat and pray together and support each other in ministry. It’s this kind of mutual support that will help our leaders to Revive their faith, ready to lead our diocese’s revitalisation plans Read more
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1 Nov. 2024
Church provides pathways into new faith
Worshippers at St Jude’s Church in Southsea are created new pathways into faith for those who don’t currently come to church. They provide free events to attract people into the building, offer them a chance to find out more about faith and can then lead them towards discipleship, in line with the Revitalise strand in our strategy. Read more
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29 July 2024
We’ll create Choir Church from local singing groups
Our diocese’s strategy includes a commitment to create new worshipping communities based on a love of choral singing. Those Choir Churches will be created by some of our parishes, often working alongside their local schools. Read more
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22 March 2024
Bishop unveils our vision and strategy
Bishop Jonathan unveiled our diocese’s vision and strategy to members of Diocesan Synod, with the help of the Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight and our strategy programme manager. Read more
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29 Jan. 2024
New Fareham vicar is a church-planter
Bishop Jonathan has appointed the Rev Henry Kendal as the new vicar of St John’s Church, Fareham. Henry was vicar at St Barnabas, Woodside Park, in London, until 2022. In his 23 years at the church, they planted six new congregations. Read more
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18 Dec. 2023
New clergy chosen to lead Ryde project
Bishop Jonathan has appointed two new clergy to lead the project to help revitalise our churches in Ryde. The Rev Heath Monaghan will become team rector of the five churches in Ryde and the Rev Olly Mitchelmore will become team vicar. They’ll help to lead the project that aims to create brand new congregations and to help the existing congregations to engage with their local community. Read more
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30 Oct. 2023
Funding boost to develop island churches
Church of England parishes in the Isle of Wight have been given extra funding in a broad initiative to support and develop their congregations. A five-year, £2.7m project aims to plant a new congregation in Ryde, whilst equipping existing ones to have more engagement with schools and explore new ways to serve the local community. The national Church of England has announced that it will invest more than £1.2m of its strategic funds in the project. The other £1.5m would come from the Diocese of Portsmouth to fund clergy positions.
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18 March 2023
Conference inspires parishes in mission
Clergy and lay leaders from across our diocese came together for a day conference on growth. They took part in a conference on ‘Leading Your Church Into Growth’ (LYCIG), held at St George’s Church, Portsea. Canon Robin Gamble, director of LYCIG led the session, which helped parishes think about practical ways to develop their mission and outreach. Read more
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13 Feb. 2023
Bishop launches annual pilgrimage to Taizé
Bishop Jonathan is launching an annual pilgrimage for young people to the Taizé Community in France. It's a place that has helped to shape his spirituality, and he'd love to see a new generation experiencing something similar. It offers a combination of intensive Bible study, uplifting worship, practical service and living in community with Christians from across the globe. Read more