Church 'needs full-time vicar' after three years

St Thomas' Church in Wednesfield is still looking to appoint a full-time vicar

A fresh demand has been made for the appointment of a full-time vicar to a parish church that has been without a permanent minister for almost three years.

St Thomas’ Church in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, has not had a full-time vicar since Rev Nick Watson left in June 2021 to take up a post in Manchester.

At present, services at the church are being overseen by team minster Rev Tom Fish, from St Alban’s in Ashmore Park.

Wednesfield North councillor Phil Bateman has written to The Bishop of Lichfield, Dr Michael Ipgrave, expressing the concerns of parishioners about the delay in appointing a new full-time vicar.

Councillor Bateman said: “Not having such an important position within the church community filled can do a lot of damage to the church and the role it plays at the heart of the greater community.

"Not only is the spiritual offer diluted by no parish priest, but also the social role is very much weakened."

Councillor Bateman received a response from the Right Reverend Jonathan Clark, Acting Bishop of Wolverhampton, on behalf of Dr Ipgrave.

Bishop Clark said that the diocese shared the councillor's frustration and had worked with the parish to advertise the post five times, but had not received any applicants.

“This is, I’m afraid, an extreme example of a problem across the whole church, where there are presently more posts available than there are priests to fill them," he said.

"I can only agree with you about the negative effects of the absence of an incumbent, and I can assure you that the diocese remains committed to ministry in inner urban areas.

“We remain hopeful the right person will be found to fill this post, and others which are, at the moment, without a priest. But it is becoming a more and more difficult process at the present time,” he said.

Councillor Bateman added: “Since I wrote the initial letter I am surprised at the number of parish churches here in Wolverhampton that are also in the same situation in this city and its bordering Parishes, with no full time vicars.”

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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