Issue 21 | Summer 2026 | www.durhamdiocese.org
Diocese of Durham
Archdeacons’ Visitation News Dear Friends I’m delighted to be able to write this on behalf of Archdeacon Libby and myself for the first time since becoming Archdeacon of Sunderland. Firstly, a huge thank you for all that you do as Churchwardens to support and help lead your local churches and in turn shape them and our Diocese, you play an amazing and important role and we are deeply grateful to you and for you. I’m sure you’ll agree, it has been an interesting time of change in our Diocese. Last year Archdeacon Rick encouraged us to pray (again) for a new Bishop as we began (again) to look for who God might be calling to that role. I think it was quite a surprise to him to realise that call would fall on his heart shortly after! Following the announcement of Archdeacon Rick becoming our new Bishop of Durham, there was much delight and joy as we prepared to receive him to lead our Diocese into a new phase of life and ministry. Among those big changes was also the news that Bishop Sarah was to leave us, as she too followed God’s call to take up the role of Bishop of Ely. There were mixed emotions at play as we celebrated with her and wished her well, but with a level of sadness to see her go. I know she too found it hard to leave Durham, somewhere she and Kyra had delighted to call home for the past 7 years.
work towards the appointment of a new Bishop of Jarrow and Archdeacon of Auckland. At the time of writing, this is still quite recent news, however by the time you read this I hope and pray we have made some good progress in this direction. Please do pray for these processes, that God will continue to call those whom we need to help take our Diocese forward. It is in this state of flux that we especially need and are thankful for all you do in your roles locally to support and uphold the joy and hope of our faith, supporting clergy and laity and often holding vacancies, of which there is a significant number across the Diocese. We are especially thankful for your prayerful response to God’s call on your lives to serve as Churchwardens and want to assure you of our prayers and support as we navigate together these times, which can be complex and difficult, with the love, joy and hope of the risen Lord Jesus. It is wonderful to know we have dedicated brothers and sisters in our communities helping shape our present and future under God. As we move steadily forward through the joys and challenges, we are thankful to be able to do so, confident we are in God’s company. May God richly bless us all as we follow his call, wherever it leads us. Archdeacon Katherine
While we are delighted with these two wonderful appointments, we do find ourselves in another state of flux as we need to
The Venerable Libby Wilkinson
The Venerable Katherine Bagnall
Archdeacon of Durham
Archdeacon of Sunderland