THE Rev Matt Grove has been appointed as our diocese’s Lay Ministry Discipleship Officer, it was announced today.

Matt had many years’ experience in lay ministry in the Diocese of Winchester before sensing a call to ordained ministry, and trained at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford. He was ordained in our diocese in 2020, and served as curate in the parish of Portsdown and Purbrook, so will be returning to a diocese that he knows and loves.

For the past two years, he has been in the Diocese of Guildford as Foundations in Ministry Programme Manager. He inaugurated and managed a new lay ministry programme across the diocese, and will bring this experience to his new role in our diocese. He will begin his new role in September, subject to the usual checks.

Matt will take overall responsibility for the training, development, and ministry of Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) across our diocese, and look to start and develop other training programmes. That means he will effectively be our Warden of Readers, and will also be responsible for other Licensed Lay Ministers, including lay pioneers and other lay workers.

He will be the strategic lead for growing and developing all licensed and other lay ministry pathways, equipping and supporting the ministry of the whole people of God.

Matt is married to the Rev Fiona Grove, who recently became Rector of Shedfield and Wickham, a post which has brought them back into our diocese. They have five children between them at various stages of their educational lives and careers.

He said: “I am thrilled to accept this new role, and delighted to be coming back to a diocese that I know well and have fond memories of. The future is exciting and full of potential, and it certainly feels as if the right job has come up at the most opportune time.

“I can’t wait to work with our wonderful LLMs and others across the diocese. It is an exciting time for lay ministry generally and I am really keen to see lay ministries of various kinds developing across the diocese.

“My time in Guildford has been exciting and joyful, particularly seeing people grow and develop and bringing themselves and their gifts and skills to the service of the Lord. I love investing in others and to see their faith and ministry grow. This is my labour in the gospel, and I am so pleased that God has called me to work this out with you all in the Diocese of Portsmouth.

“I also love to try new things, explore new places and I enjoy the company of good friends over a coffee or a beer, or both. Travelling across the Atlantic last year was one of my dream ambitions, and what was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip is now turning into a desire to repeat the trip!”