Diocese of Carlisle

News Stories


  • Special service to celebrate 30th anniversary of ordination of women Priests

    A special service will be held at Carlisle Cathedral to mark the 30th anniversary of the first ordination of women Priests.

    The Rev Canon Angela Whittaker, Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s Ministry in the Diocese of Carlisle, will preside at a Eucharist in Celebration of 30 Years of Ordination of Women to the Priesthood.

    She will be supported on the day by the Rev Ruth Newton, who next week joins the Diocese as the new Archdeacon of Carlisle, and who will preach at the service.
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  • In Pics: Year Six leavers' services

    More than 1,000 church school pupils have attended special services to mark their end of primary school education.

    More than 40 church schools took part in Year Six leavers' services at Carlisle Cathedral and Kendal Parish Church, with the theme Something Inside So Strong: Jesus!.  Read more

  • Statement - St Monica's Maternity Home

    ITV national news have today (Tuesday 9 July) run a report focusing on accounts of forced adoptions and historical abuse at care homes in England. This included St Monica’s Maternity Home which the Diocese of Carlisle operated from 1918 to its closure in 1970.

    Such accounts are shocking and our thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected. We are deeply sorry that people suffered in this way, and it is hugely disturbing to think that the trust placed in those who cared for young women and girls at St Monica’s may have been breached. We fully recognise the courage and bravery it has taken to come forward with such details.

    Click here for support channels if you have been affected by any issues raised. Read more

  • In Pics: Petertide Ordinations 2024

    It is wonderful to be able to share pictures of the Petertide ordinations of our Deacons and Priests.

    Services took place at Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday 29 June and in home churches over the coming days and weeks.

    Please continue to pray for all our ordinands! Read more

  • Meet our 2024 ordinands

    Seven new curates will be ordained in the Diocese of Carlisle at a special service this weekend.

    All will be ordained Deacon by the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, the Acting Bishop of Carlisle, at the service to be held at Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday 29 June at 11am.

    The group includes a leading international nuclear industry expert, a retired child minder, two Sellafield managers, an educational psychologist, a former healthcare academic and a church youth and families worker. Six will serve as self-supporting (unsalaried) ministers while a seventh will be a stipendiary (salaried) curate. Read more

  • Cumbrian Vicar’s Dave Day tribute to Hairy Biker

    A Cumbrian vicar has spoken of his privilege in helping officiate at a special event in memory of Hairy Biker, Dave Myers.

    Around 20,000 bikers descended on Barrow-in-Furness on Saturday to pay tribute to the TV chef who died, aged 66, in February after a cancer diagnosis two years ago.

    The huge procession of bikes set off from London on Saturday morning and was led by Dave’s TV sidekick and best friend, Si King.

    Once in Barrow they gathered outside the town hall to hear from Dave’s friends and family as well as the Rev Tony Ford, the vicar of St Mark’s Barrow. Tony had been contacted by Dave’s widow, Liliana, and provided a 10-minute time of reflection.
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  • D Day and Normandy landings to be commemorated

    The 80th anniversary of D Day and the Normandy landings is to be commemorated in prayer and through special services across the Diocese of Carlisle.

    A Diocesan D Day prayer has been prepared by the Ven Stewart Fyfe, the Archdeacon of West Cumberland, and is being offered up for use at services.
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  • Prayers for our 2024 ordinands

    Please do pray for all those to be ordained Deacon or Priest in just over a month's time. And please remember to uphold their families in prayer also.

    Seven people will be ordained Deacon at a service at Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday 29 June at 11.30am.
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  • Cumbrian former nun pens convent murder mystery

    A former nun, turned writer and therapist, has written a murder mystery novel, set in a convent.

    Helen Weston, whose spent five years in Anglican convents - during which time she met her future husband David, who was then a Benedictine abbot - will launch Silence Interrupted in Carlisle this evening (Thursday 16 May).

    The novel will be Helen’s third book, following her memoir The Winter is Past, which told the story of her clandestine romance, and her first novel It is solved by Walking, a suspense story, drawing on her work as a therapist.
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  • Cumbrian vicar and congregants feature in Lake District Rescue TV series

    A Cumbrian vicar and two of his congregation members have featured in a new TV series focusing on the work of the county’s mountain rescue teams.

    The Rev Paul Kerry and Phil Hall are both volunteer members of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team. Paul is currently the wellbeing lead for the team – supporting the resilience and mental health of volunteers and their families - whilst Phil is a team leader.

    Last year, a camera crew was welcomed into St Bridget’s Moresby to film Paul christen two of the children Phil has with partner, Steph Kelly. The baptism service for Gabriel, 2, and Sebastian, 1, has just featured in the third episode of Lake District Rescue, which aired on More4 on Sunday evening.
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