Five new Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) have been licensed to serve in parishes across Devon during a service of welcome and celebration at Exeter Cathedral.

Barbara Hemsley, Stacey James, Pete Simmons, Nicola Thorne and Sally Watson were supported by friends, family and members of their church communities as they took vows and were given their signature blue scarves, which are worn by LLMs when they lead worship.

The service was led by the Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison. Earlier in the day he led a teaching morning in Exeter for all LLMs in the diocese in which he set out his vision for their ministry.

He said “I want LLMs to be such followers of Jesus in their public ministry, such beacons of light, such flavours of salt, such expansive influence of yeast, that they truly attract and motivate the followership of Jesus and enable God to be possible for people who for one reason or another may not think God is possible.” He also thanked LLMs for their “faithfulness, courage and solidarity.”