TOWN centre chaplain and vicar of St Stephen’s, the Rev Paul Lawlor, has been invited to become an Honorary Canon by the Bishop of Worcester, John Inge.
The news came out of the blue, said the Rev Lawlor, who said it was a reflection of the work being done in St Stephen’s and by the Church as a collective right across Redditch.
“It came in one of those envelopes marked strictly confidential and for addressee only, and of course you immediately think, oh dear, what can this be, but instead it carried this rather lovely news,” he said.
Crucially it means he will be staying in Redditch and in his current position, but he will also become one of the Canons of Worcester Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the land.
“It reflects on the things we have been able to do here and how we are trying to move forward,” said Rev Lawlor, who is also Area Dean of Redditch and Bromsgrove.
An Honorary Canon is an ambassador for the cathedral in the diocese.
In the role the Rev Lawlor will have his own ‘seat’ in the cathedral where he may be asked to read a lesson or two.
The pandemic has probably caused more change in the Church in the space of two years than in the previous four centuries with religious leaders suddenly finding themselves producers, directors and presenters of online services and more as they adapted to the ‘new normal’.
However throughout it all St Stephen’s has remained at the heart of the local community.
The Rev Lawlor will be made an Honorary Canon in a public ceremony on March 12 at 5.30pm in Worcester Cathedral. All are welcome to attend.
