Diocese of Southwell
Communications & Press Office
Press Release
Wednesday, March 31st 2004 For immediate release
Twin church roles for city centre vicar
A city-centre vicar will take on a new dual role with two of Nottingham’s central churches following a special service this weekend.
The Revd Canon Andrew Deuchar, who is currently Rector of St Peter & All Saints Church, next to Marks and Spencer’s in the centre of Nottingham, will also take on responsibility for heading up the ancient Lace Market church of St Mary’s, for a three year period (*see note).
The new role of Priest-in-Charge, which begins after the official licensing service on Sunday, 4th April at 6.30pm at St Mary’s, will also include explorations into how to develop the church’s role within the city in the future.
The Bishop of Southwell, the Rt Revd George Cassidy, who will license Andrew on Sunday, said: "I’m very excited about this new opportunity to help us plan for the future. Our city centre churches play a key role in the commercial and business life of Nottingham – we hope to build on this and ensure that the Church of England is fully connected into the city centre community."
Andrew Deuchar was a member of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury’s personal staff at Lambeth Palace before coming to St Peter’s
and was recently appointed as a chaplain to the Queen.He said: "I recognise the enormous significance of St Mary’s in the city and I am looking forward to working with the people of St Mary's to build for the future. The various city centre churches have been working together for some time and so my new role with both churches is a natural progression."
*Editor’s note:
The new exploration into developing St Mary's in the future,
which is part of a strategic review of the role of Anglican churches in the city area, links in with discussions which are now underway about placing a senior member of the clergy in charge of the church. The Bishop of Southwell's leadership team hopes to establish a higher profile within the city of Nottingham and a working party headed by Judge John Hopkin is currently examining various issues about the future. The Working Group, which will report its initial findings in June 2004, is looking into a number of key areas including a possible name change for the Diocese of Southwell, to include Nottingham in the title and the most appropriate location for the Bishop of Southwell's home and office.
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