A husband-and-wife clergy team who have served Cumbrian communities for 60 years combined are to leave the county.

The Rev Canon Jane Maycock – currently the Diocese of Carlisle’s Acting Director of Ministry Development and Interim Diocesan Director of Ordinands – has been appointed as the new Canon Missioner and Residentiary Canon at Durham Cathedral. Her husband, the Rev James Richards, is to stand down from his role as Team Rector of the South Lakes Team.

Jane was among the first women to be ordained priest in 1994. A year later she and James moved to Cumbria to job-share a second curacy. Since then Jane has served in local church ministry and ministered as a theological lecturer and DDO.

She said: “I’ve lived in Cumbria for longer than I’ve lived anywhere else! I can’t easily put in a few words what a rich experience it has been. I’ve loved getting to know so many different people and places, in a range of different ministries. I’m excited about what lies ahead, but as we move to Durham will definitely be carrying Cumbria in my heart.”

A published author, she has recently completed her doctoral thesis at the University of Durham in the area of literature, theology and contemporary culture.

The Durham Cathedral role is a new one and is designed to take forward the Cathedral’s Proclamation strand within Vision 2033.The Canon Missioner will develop the Cathedral’s ministry of evangelism, discipleship and social justice and work with Prof Simon Oliver as Co-Director of the Durham Cathedral Institute, hosting leading speakers on key issues facing the world today. She will take up the role after Easter.

Rachel Head, Director of Mission and Ministry, Support and Innovation, said: “Jane has given decades of faithful service to communities across Cumbria and to the Diocese’s central mission and ministry support team.

“Her passion has always been to help people identify their God given gifts and together explore their vocational pathways. We give thanks for all that she has done - both in parish settings and centrally – to support those looking to develop their ministry and those working towards ordination. She and James will go with our prayers as they look towards a new ministry in the northeast.”

Meanwhile, James is also to step down as Team Rector, meaning he will bid farewell to the parishes he has served: St Martin, Windermere since 1999 and since the end of 2019 St Anne, Ings; St Cuthbert, Kentmere; St Mary, Windermere; Jesus Church Troutbeck and St James, Staveley.

James – who served his curacy at Trinity St Michael, Harrow, before a move to Kendal in 1995 – also served nearly six years as Rural Dean of Windermere from 2010.

He said: “I feel very fortunate to have been called to serve God in these communities, our home, where our children have grown up. It has been a privilege to be invited into people’s lives at key moments around births, marriages and bereavement. I have enjoyed working well together with fellow ministers across different churches in the community in the common task of pastoral care, nurturing people’s faith, and seeking to proclaim the reality of God’s love for all made known in Jesus Christ. I am delighted at Jane’s appointment, but I know there will be a real sense of loss at leaving the community we have been part of for 27 years.”

Jane will leave her Diocesan roles on 20 February and James’ last service in the Team will be on Easter Sunday, 5 April.

ENDS

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.