In this first episode of the Chester Box Podcast for the year 2023, Bishops Mark, Julie and Sam reflect on the ways in which they have responded to God's call in their own lives and how they encourage others to recognise it in theirs too.

If you want to explore where God could be calling you in 2023, help is on hand. The Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Chester is Sarah Fenby, and she would love to talk to you if you are sensing God's call into lay or ordained ministries. You can email her DDV@chester.anglican.org.

On Saturday 15th October around 60 women attended the annual Women’s Voices Conference from the Diocese of Chester. Five speakers were invited to share their different perspectives on the Bible.

In the fifth and final talk recorded at the 2022 Women's Voices Conference, the Revd Liz Shercliff focusses on the story of Tamar. 

The next Women's Voices Conference is due to take place on Saturday 14th October 2023.

On Saturday 15th October around 60 women attended the annual Women’s Voices Conference from the Diocese of Chester. Five speakers were invited to share their different perspectives on the Bible. 

In the fourth of five talks, the Revd Jenny Bridgman explores what it means to be an attentive leader in anxious times.

The next Women's Voices Conference is due to take place on Saturday 14th October 2023. 

On Saturday 15th October around 60 women attended the annual Women’s Voices Conference from the Diocese of Chester. Five speakers were invited to share their different perspectives on the Bible. This is episode three of five talks from the day.

On Saturday 15th October around 60 women attended what was the 9th annual Women’s Voices Conference. Five speakers were invited to share their different perspectives on the Bible. This is episode two of five, featuring all five talks from the day. 

The Revd Dr Jasmine Devadason is originally from the Church of South India and has an interest in Dalit Feminist readings of the Bible. She is currently on the ministry team of St Catherine's, Heald Green.

On Saturday 15th October around 60 women attended what was the 9th annual Women’s Voices Conference. Five speakers were invited to share their different perspectives on the Bible. 

The first speaker on the day was Dr Eve Parker who is the Director of Global Mission at USPG and author of Trust in Theological Education.

This is the first in five talks from the 2022 Women's Voice Conference.

On 5th October 2022, the Church of England published its national Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2) report, a review of more than 75,000 files, some dating back to the 1940s. The PCR2 process was carried out by independent reviewers across all 42 dioceses, including the Diocese of Chester which has also published an extensive Summary Report of the findings in the diocese. 

The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, the Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty, and the Bishop of Stockport, Sam Corley, recorded a conversation, ahead of the national report publication, in which they reflect on the PCR2 process and findings of poor safeguarding practice in the Diocese and the Church. 

More information, including the reports, can be found here: 

As a former CEO of a local Multi-Academy Trust and Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel, David is a well-known figure in the Diocese of Chester, and stood for election to Diocesan Synod in February, but narrowly missed out.

Due to this "near miss" David was invited to serve on the House of Laity of General Synod, in response to the Archbishops' anti-racism report, From Lament to Action, which calls for greater representation of people from Global Ethnic backgrounds.

Here he reflects on his time at General Synod and explains why he's having to stand down as Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel.