Bishop Martin joined with the Halas Team at St John's Church in Halesowen on Sunday to bless and pray for the Revd Hazel Charlton, as she took up a new role as the Vicar for St John’s along with the exciting position of Renewal Project Lead.
St John’s is one of the churches which will benefit from funding awarded to the Diocese by the Church Commissioners, in order to adapt the building and employ new staff. This will enable the church to become a healthy and sustainable hub at the centre of Halesowen, loving and serving its community and reaching out to many more people.
During the service, Hazel spoke of her pleasure and excitement at working at St John’s to realise the vision of growing in number, welcoming more children and young people, and of beginning new worshipping communities, “so that everyone, if they wish to, will be able to worship God here, in their own way.”
The renewal of St John's Church in Halesowen will be shared with the wider team of churches in the Parish, and the clergy team are greatly looking forward to being involved.