UDATED: THE APPOINTMENT OF THE REVD. JULIE BACON AS ASSOCIATE ARCHDEACON

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE REVD. JULIE BACON AS ASSOCIATE ARCHDEACON (TRANSITION ENABLER) IN THE DIOCESE OF SHEFFIELD

The Bishop of Sheffield the Right Reverend Dr Pete Wilcox has invited the Reverend Julie Bacon to take up a role as Associate Archdeacon (Transition Enabler) to serve the twinned deaneries of Rotherham and Laughton in the diocese of Sheffield, and she has accepted. This is one of four similar appointments in the diocese of Sheffield which are being announced today. The four newly appointed Associate Archdeacons (Transition Enablers) will work alongside the two existing Associate Archdeacons who started work in January 2021. The post is for a period of 5 years. It is funded through strategic development funding from the Church Commissioners as part of the diocesan transformation project. A start date for Julie in this new role is yet to be determined, and the appointment is announced subject to the completion of a satisfactory DBS check.

The Archdeacon of Bradford, the Venerable Dr Andy Jolley says, “Julie is to be congratulated on her appointment to this significant post of Associate Archdeacon (Transition Enabler) in the Diocese of Sheffield. Bishop Toby and I are most grateful to her for her faithful service as Interim Minister for Kildwick, Cononley and Bradley for the past 3 and a half years, and the part she played in overseeing the transition to a united parish. Julie’s leaving at the end of the period of Interim Ministry as expected, and we are glad that work is ongoing with the final Interim Ministry objective of helping the PCC to articulate their parish’s new identity and consider the skills and experience we will now need to find for the future. We will therefore be praying the parish as well as for Julie and Matt as they prepare to move to South Yorkshire.”

Julie says, “I am excited to have been appointed to one of these innovative roles in the diocese of Sheffield, which is about helping clergy and lay people to adopt new ways of fulfilling their vocation of being the whole people of God. The Church of England is facing up to the need to do things differently, and I feel called to help and support clergy and lay people as they navigate their way through the journey of transition. This is a journey that we’ve been on together in the parish of Kildwick, Cononley and Bradley over the last three and a half years that I have served as Interim Minister here. I have been encouraged by what we have done together, and I am grateful to everyone in the churches and the wider parish who have tackled challenges and adapted to changes. I hope that this has created a solid foundation for you and your future Vicar to build on as you continue to serve the parish. I have made many friends during my time in the parish whom I will miss, and I will continue to hold you all in my heart and in my prayers.”

Julie’s leaving date will be confirmed in due course.

UPDATE: Julie’s last Sunday in the parish

My last Sunday in the parish will be Sunday 20th June. I will then be taking a holiday before starting in my new employed post in the diocese of Sheffield later in July. A licensing date has yet to be arranged; once it is, I’ll let you know and would value your prayers.