THEY are the new leaders in the Diocese of Winchester.

Eleven new lay ministers have been licensed by the Right Reverend Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton, to undertake ministries within parishes across Hampshire and East Dorset.

They were licensed in a service at Winchester Cathedral.

LLMs (also known as Lay Readers) are lay people who take on leadership roles in ministry and mission in the Church of England.

The new roles of Licensed Lay Worker (LLW) and Bishops's Commission for Mission (BCM) have been newly established in the Diocese of Winchester as part of the Diocesan plan to equip many kinds of disciples and leaders as the dioceses's commitment to re-imagine the church.

Bishop Jonathan Frost said: “It was a joy to welcome our new Licensed Lay Ministers and Licensed Lay Worker, alongside our first BCM candidates. The service was a wonderful celebration of the ministry of the whole people of God.”

Following the service, the Right Reverend Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, said: “I am delighted to welcome our new licensed ministers, workers and Bishop’s Commission for Mission candidates. These are committed and motivated individuals who are engaged in their calling to support the Church’s mission across the Diocese of Winchester, both in their communities and in the workplace. I am so grateful to them for answering God’s call to serve and pray for them as they take up their new ministry.”

The names of those who have been licensed are Lay readers Adrian Nance, Benefice of Winchester (Christ Church);

Karen Bannister, Benefice of Winchester (St Bartholomew and St Lawrence with St Swithun-upon-Kingsgate);

Michael Sarson, Benefice of North West Hampshire;

Carol Kidd, Benefice of West End.

Bishop Jonathan also welcomed Ian Clark, an LLM who had transferred into the Benefice of Romsey.

Kevin Smith became the first LLW, in the Benefice of Sway, and will also serve as Lay Chaplain in HM Prison Winchester.

The Bishop’s Commission for Mission candidates were:

Becky Gardner, Benefice of Harley Wintney with Elvetham and Winchfield and Dogmersfield;

Matthew Grove, Benefice of Hedge End (St Luke);

Alan Hogg, Benefice of Holy Epiphany, Bournemouth;

Anne Molyneux, Benefice of St Thomas, Fair Oak;

Lynn Shaw, Benefice of Headbourne Worthy, King’s Worthy.