Bishop John has announced that the Revd Canon Mark Badger is to be the next Archdeacon of Worcester. Mark is currently rector of Kempsey & Severn Stoke w Croome d'Abitot & Norton as well as Area Dean of Malvern and Upton. He will succeed Archdeacon Robert Jones, appointed exactly nine years ago today, who is retiring at the end of November.
Mark has lived in Worcestershire for most of his life, growing up in Kidderminster and being ordained in Worcester Cathedral in 1996. He served in St Stephen’s and St George’s churches in Worcester before briefly leaving the diocese to be Chaplain at Thames Valley Police, moving back to Worcester to head up ‘Motov8’, the charity he founded which supports young people who struggle in mainstream education with their personal and social development. He returned to full time parish ministry in 2012 as Rector of Kempsey and Severn Stoke.
Mark said: “I am humbled and honoured to have been asked to become the next Archdeacon of Worcester. I hope that I can continue Archdeacon Robert’s work in being a pastor to the people in the Archdeaconry, helping them to feel loved and listened to and enabling them to continue to grow in their relationship with God and each other. I’m currently feeling a bit daunted, and I will be sad to leave my parish, but it is a very exciting next step. I have loved being Area Dean, supporting colleagues and parishes and it’s great that I will be able to continue to do that as Archdeacon.”
Bishop John said: “Mark is an extremely able individual who has a proven track record as a parish priest and, more recently, as a highly effective Area Dean. Most of his ministry has been in this diocese and we have been very enriched by it: he is highly respected. I am delighted with his appointment and look forward greatly to working with him in this new role. I also give thanks for the ministry of Archdeacon Robert, who has filled the role with such great distinction and been a huge blessing to us all.”
Mark was appointed to the new role following a competitive interview process with other shortlisted candidates from outside the Diocese. As Archdeacon, he will have oversight of parishes and clergy in the four deaneries of Worcester, Malvern and Upton, Kidderminster and Stourport and Pershore and Evesham. He will also have responsibility for our diocesan priority to double the number of children and young people in our churches by 2030 and support parishes in their ministry to new housing developments.
Mark continued: “Children and Young People have always been a very important part of my ministry so I’m delighted to take the lead for the Diocese in this area, working alongside our Director of Education and Children and Youth Adviser. I have also had considerable experience of working with new housing developments in my current role and this is another area for which I have a real passion. I am looking forward to taking on a range of different responsibilities as Archdeacon.”
Mark is married to Kate and has four children; two grown up boys and two girls aged 11 and 13. The family has two flat coated retrievers and they enjoy spending time together walking with them. Mark is also a self-confessed petrolhead with a love of sports cars!
Bishop John will license Mark Badger as Archdeacon of Worcester at Evensong (5.30 pm) in the Cathedral on Saturday 2 December. There will also be an opportunity to say farewell to Archdeacon Robert at Evensong in the Cathedral on Sunday 19 November, to which all are welcome.
