Licensing, Whiting and a new face

There appears to be no collective noun for a car full of Readers and a curate, but they were just one group of many who travelled to Worcester Cathedral to celebrate the licensing of Claire Darnborough as Licensed Lay Minister (or LLM, often known as ‘Reader’) on Saturday 21st September.

In a moving service of thanksgiving for lay ministry, where existing Readers reaffirmed their calling, the uplifting hymns were led by a choir brought together from all of the six LLM candidates’ churches, under the direction of the Priory’s Director of Music, Piers Maxim.

Claire received her Licence to serve at the Priory from Martin, Bishop of Dudley and Acting Bishop of Worcester, before being vested with her blue Reader’s scarf, beautifully handmade by her daughter. In answering God’s call to Licensed Lay Ministry, Claire joins the Priory’s four existing Readers - Chris, Sue, David and Richard, leading services of the word, preaching and providing pastoral support.

Maybe you, too, feel God’s call to Licensed Ministry? To find out more about becoming a Licensed Lay Minister or Ordained Minister and the different training pathways, why not join the Diocese’s ‘Vocations Marketplace’ on Zoom on 21st October? Register for a link by clicking here.

The following day, the latest member of the Choir was admitted as a Junior Chorister during Morning Worship at the Priory, in a ceremony known in the Priory as ‘Whiting’. The beaming youngster pledged to sing joyfully to God and received her white collar (hence the term) from Piers, the Director of Music to applause from the congregation.

And in that congregation was a new face whose extreme cuteness and excellent behaviour was much admired over coffee after the service. The young puppy (a wonderfully complex mix of canine descent) is the latest of several canine companions who come to Priory worship with their owners. Well behaved dogs are welcome to worship and to visit the Priory with their owners - do call in, soon.