Licensing service for lay ministers
- Saturday 20th June
- 11am
- Portsmouth Cathedral
Bishop Jonathan will license four new Readers and a new lay pioneer minister, who will then serve at parishes within our diocese. They are:
- Oyin Alonge (to serve as a Reader at St Simon’s Church, Southsea) - read more about him here
- Elizabeth Alford (to serve as a Reader at Bramshott and Liphook)
- Clive Ellam (to serve as a Reader at Holy Trinity and St Columba, Fareham)
- Elena Aghasi (to serve as a Reader at St Luke’s Church, Southsea)
- Steven Smart (to serve as a lay pioneer minister at Bridgemary and Elson) - read more about him here
The service is also an occasion for all licensed lay ministers to recall the ministerial vows they have made.
- Peter Smith (who will serve as a Reader at Crofton parish) will be licensed on a separate occasion
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16 April 2026
Experience of Southsea church led to call to become a Reader
Oyin Alonge was initially suspicious of church leadership – because of his previous experience of ... read more
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15 April 2026
New lay minister has already been pioneering
Steven Smart will be licensed as a lay pioneer minister in June – alongside several ... read more
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21 June 2025
Three new Readers licensed in our cathedral
Bishop Jonathan licensed three new Readers in our cathedral – Sue Craft, who will serve ... read more