Two special Pentecost services marked the beginning of new team ministries in the Mowbray Deanery, following the completion of a two-year process of deanery reorganisation.
The reorganisation, which was formally completed by the Church Commissioners in February, creates two geographical teams within the deanery: North Mowbray and South Mowbray. The new structure will support informal team ministry, encourage and grow lay ministry, and help churches share resources, gifts, and experience more effectively across the deanery.
Both celebration services were led by The Rt Revd Barry Hill, Bishop of Whitby, and The Ven Amanda Bloor, Archdeacon of Cleveland. They included the commissioning of lay ministers, as well as the licensing of incumbents.
The first service took place at 3.30pm on Sunday 24 May at All Saints, Northallerton, celebrating the new North Mowbray Team Ministry. During the service, the Revd David Johnson was licensed at All Saints.
A second service followed at 7.00pm at St Oswald’s, Sowerby, celebrating the new South Mowbray Team Ministry. This service included the licensing of the Revd David Biggs at St Oswald’s.
The celebrations offered a moment of thanksgiving for the ministry already shared across the deanery, and a hopeful step into a new season of working together in living Christ’s story.
