Diocese of Portsmouth

    New Archdeacon for Portsmouth and Havant


    Category
    General
    Date
    12 Dec. 2005
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    THE Ven Dr Trevor Reader has been appointed to be the new Archdeacon of Portsdown – covering Portsmouth and Havant - from next February.


    The Ven Dr Trevor Reader

    He will succeed the Ven Chris Lowson, who will be taking up a job with the national Church of England.

    Dr Reader, 59, has been Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight since September 2003. He will switch to the mainland, and be responsible for supporting clergy and congregations in 41 parishes in the Portsmouth, Havant and Waterlooville areas.

    As one of three Archdeacons in the Anglican diocese of Portsmouth, he was already one of its most senior clergymen under the rank of bishop. He will continue to chair the diocese’s Board of Education, which advises and supports 49 Church of England schools, youth and children's work in parishes, and adult education around the Portsmouth diocese. He has also recently taken over the chairing of the Kairos Executive Group, which is overseeing the implementation of 277 parish-based ‘Kairos’ projects to help the community across the diocese.

    He will move from his current post in February, when the Ven Chris Lowson becomes Director of Ministry for the Archbishops’ Council, a post that involves leading a team in London responsible for lay and ordained ministry throughout the Church of England.

    Trevor was born in Wales, but originally came to Portsmouth to study at the polytechnic. After securing a zoology degree and a PhD in parasitic diseases, he continued as a lecturer and research worker there for 14 years.

    He started training for ordination in 1986 on a course based in Salisbury. He then worked as a curate at St Mary's, Alverstoke, in Gosport, for two-and-a-half years and as vicar of St Mary's, Hook-with-Warsash for nine years.

    In 1998, he took up a dual post as priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity, Blendworth, St Michael and All Angels, Chalton, and St  Hubert's, Idsworth, and diocesan director of non-stipendiary (unpaid) ministry. He become Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight in September 2003.

    Trevor’s wife, Lesley, died earlier this year. The couple had six daughters, who are now aged between 19 and 28.

    Dr Reader said: "I’ve really enjoyed getting to know people on the Isle of Wight, and will be sad to leave. But there are new challenges on the mainland that I’m looking forward to being involved with as well.

    “The implementation of the parishes’ Kairos plans is something that really excites me. This is a chance for churches to make even more impact on their own communities, by extending God’s love to those in physical, spiritual and emotional need. I’m looking forward to being involved with that more closely across the whole diocese.”

    Although the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Kenneth Stevenson, is currently on sick leave while undergoing treatment for leukaemia, he was able to oversee Trevor’s appointment.  

    The bishop said, “I am delighted that Trevor has accepted this challenging and exciting post.  He is an able and valued colleague, and I know that he will serve the churches and people of Portsmouth, Havant and Waterlooville with great care, wisdom and enthusiasm.”

    Trevor will be formally collated as Archdeacon of Portsdown during a service in Portsmouth Cathedral at 6pm on February 26.