The new Growing Healthy Churches Adviser within the Diocesan Mission and Ministry Team will be the Venerable John Day, Archbishop Stephen announced at the 2nd July meeting of York Diocesan Synod.

The role will involve drawing alongside parishes and deaneries to help them engage in God’s mission, and in growing a team who can share in what is vital work in resourcing our local churches as we live out Christ’s story.

John Day is already well-known in the Diocese of York; he is currently acting Archdeacon of York while the Ven Sam Rushton is Acting Director for Strategic Transformation, and had previously served since 2016 as the Archbishop of York’s Assistant Chaplain and Adviser in Mission Strategy and Church Revitalisation. John's parish ministry is working with the incumbent in York St Chad, St Clement and Bishopthorpe St Andrew. From 2001 to 2015 John worked in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, as a vicar and then Archdeacon in Christchurch Diocese; previously he had been a vicar in Bradford and Leeds, and later was Archdeacon in Liverpool Diocese assisting parishes in strategies for growth.

Archbishop Stephen said, “I am delighted that John has been appointed to this role. He will bring significant experience as a missioner, an archdeacon in New Zealand and as someone who has, over many years, helped churches across a whole variety of contexts and traditions to engage in God’s mission.”

Director of Mission and Ministry the Revd Dr Ian McIntosh said, “John’s heart for mission, his own spirituality and infectious enthusiasm will be real gifts to receive both within the emerging Mission and Ministry Team and in the wider Diocese.”

John responded, “I have a big heart for the parishes in our Diocese and want to see them grow and flourish. I am so looking forward to joining the Mission and Ministry Team in October. I was born in Scarborough and, as a young man, was sponsored by York Diocese for ordination. For the last six years it has been a privilege to serve our Archbishops, Sentamu and Stephen, especially in evangelism, church planting and disciple-making across the North of England. This has included local churches growing and re-imagining worship and mission through pioneering and fresh expressions. I have been a vicar for 28 years which has included 12 years as an archdeacon. I've served in a wide variety of contexts: inner city to deeply rural. My prayer is that we can be Christ-like, blessing our wider communities and inviting all to be disciples of Christ.”