Diocese of Carlisle

News Stories


  • Diocese supports ‘Caring for the Carers’ project for a second year

    More than 30 health and social care staff will benefit from special free ‘Caring for the Carers’ days to be run in the Lake District this year, supported by the Diocese of Carlisle.

    The scheme is a collaborative project between the Diocese and the Sacred Space Foundation - a non-profit, non-denominational retreat centre and charitable trust in Cumbria - and builds on the success of previous retreat and residential days which have benefited 80 carers.
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  • Diocese awarded nearly £600,000 to support mission and ministry

    The Diocese of Carlisle has been awarded nearly £600,000 by the Church Commissioners to further support mission and ministry across Cumbria.

    The money will fund the creation of a new church planting lead role for the next three years, plus the appointment of a new Archdeacon of Carlisle, and a post focusing on growing vocations to ministry in the local church. It will also provide continued project management support for the next year.

    The new Archdeacon of Carlisle will continue to act as a Strategy Development Officer as part of our ecumenical county’s God for All vision and strategy. Details of the successful bid application will be discussed by Diocesan Synod members at their meeting this Saturday (9 March).
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  • Bronze eco award for Diocese of Carlisle

    The Diocese of Carlisle has gained a bronze eco award in recognition of its environmental focus.

    A Rocha UK - a Christian charity working to protect and restore the natural world –presented the award after the Diocese worked on environmental projects at its head office in Penrith as well as encouraging churches across Cumbria to register as Eco Churches.

    It comes just weeks after work was also completed on the Diocese’s first eco vicarage in the village of Natland, near Kendal.
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  • Diocese strengthens mission partnership agreement

    The Diocese of Carlisle has strengthened ties with an international partner to support mission and ministry across Cumbria.

    For more than 15 years the Diocese has partnered with the Norwegian Mission Society (NMS), particularly around its Network Youth Church initiative which engages with hundreds of young people in the county and the introduction of international missionaries.

    This week, the Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, signed a new six-year partnership agreement with NMS. It will see continued working together in mission, resourcing local ministry and shared learning. For 2024 to 2026, NMS are funding a new Children’s and Families worker role to help grow new church communities, as well as supporting the Diocesan interns’ scheme and Network Youth Church.
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  • Diocese welcomes Argentinian link team

    A six-strong delegation from the Diocese of Northern Argentina is touring Cumbria as part of special link visit.

    The group arrived in Cumbria on Tuesday, having left temperatures of over 30 degrees to face snow and freezing conditions in Cumbria. The visit strengthens ties between the Dioceses of Carlisle and Northern Argentina, which have been in place since 1995.

    The Argentine group is led by the Rev Dany Lescano, Vicar General in Northern Argentina, who is acting Bishop following the retirement of the Rt Rev Nick Drayson last May. Read more

  • Diocese completes work on first Net Carbon Zero vicarage

    Work has been completed on the Diocese of Carlisle’s first Net Carbon Zero vicarage.

    Five months ago, the Diocese purchased a property in Natland, just south of Kendal, as a replacement for the village’s existing Victorian vicarage.

    Work has since been undertaken to install a new air source heat pump, pressurised water heating system, solar panels on the roof and battery storage to improve efficiency and provide two thirds of the electricity supply, increased insulation in the roof space and new external doors. Read more

  • The Archdeacon of Carlisle Announces His Retirement

    The Archdeacon of Carlisle, the Ven Richard Pratt, has announced he is to retire at the end of March.

    Richard has served in Cumbria for more than 26 years, initially as Priest-in-Charge of St Cuthbert’s with St Mary’s in Carlisle from 1997 before his appointment as Archdeacon of West Cumberland in 2009.

    From 2020 he served as Associate Archdeacon of West Cumberland whilst also holding parochial duties for Maryport, before his appointment as Archdeacon of Carlisle last year.
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  • The Bishop of Penrith's New Year Message 2024

    In his New Year message, the Bishop of Penrith references the conflicts in the Holy Land, Ukraine and Sudan, while calling for people to focus on the light of Jesus Christ in 2024.

    The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, who was filmed at St Andrew’s Penrith, also touches on the difficulties faced by thousands due to the continued cost-of-living crisis and global climate change.
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  • The Bishop of Penrith’s Christmas Message 2023

    The Bishop of Penrith focuses on a theme of hospitality in his annual Christmas message.

    The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh was filmed at Rydal Hall, the Diocese of Carlisle’s Christian Retreat and Conference Centre near Ambleside, where staff are preparing for their usual busy Christmas period.
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  • Archbishop of York Statement on the Crown Nominations Commission for the next Bishop of Carlisle

    At the conclusion of a lengthy process of discernment, culminating in two days of interviews on 13 and 14 December, the Crown Nominations Commission considering the nomination of the next Bishop of Carlisle has, very sadly, not been able reach the level of consensus required to nominate a new Diocesan Bishop.

    Over the course of the next months, the Crown Nominations Commission will need to reflect, and make a decision about which stage it wishes to re-commence the discernment process. This is not likely to be before the Spring of 2025. Read more

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