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Readers
From the Church of England’s Readers website :
“Readers are lay people in the Church of England, from all walks of life, who are called by God, theologically trained and licensed by the Church to preach, teach, lead worship and assist in pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work.”
“The office of Reader is the only lay ministry in the Church of England which is voluntary, nationally accredited, Episcopally licensed and governed by canon. There are now over 10,000 Readers, with men and women represented almost equally.”
In the Parish of Aston and Nechells, the readers are regularly involved in leading services and preaching. Some of them do this mainly in one of the churches, others help out at all three.
Please click on the reader’s name (below) that you want to read about or scroll down to browse.
Readers in the Parish
Jackie Burton
Jackie was licensed as a Reader in January 2008. She is also the Church Centre Co-Ordinator at St James, where she has worshipped since she first became a Christian.
Ken Costley
Ken was born in Jamaica and came to England in 1966, aged 11, to join up with his family who were already in Birmingham. After many years in the Church of God of Prophecy, Ken joined Aston Parish Church in 1998. He was confirmed later that year and was then licensed as a Reader in January 2003. Ken has worked for many years as a Quality Inspector. He lives in Aston and is the father of three grown up children.
David Fletcher
David has been a Christian since his teenage years, and he enjoys being actively involved in the life of this parish. He worships at St James’ Church, and as a Reader he often leads services or preach. David also works part-time in the church building as Office Manager of the St James Advice Centre, which seeks to help our needy neighbours by offering free advice on immigration, welfare, and other matters.
Outside work, David’s particular passions are singing in a local choir, playing cricket, and cycling! Together with his wife Juliet, he leads the Lee Abbey Aston Household Community in Albert Road . They really appreciate the way Christians in Aston work together creatively to present the message of the Gospel to local residents.
Vanico James
Vanico was born on Nevis, one of the Caribbean islands, in 1957. Son of a Fisherman, his mother was in service and his father frequently absent, so he was brought up by his grandparents. His fist introduction to Christianity came through his Minister grandfather. His commitment to take it further came when he met a science and mathematics teacher who had a great influence on his life. Vanico began training for Readership in 2000 and was licensed in 2002.
Giyanow Kaur
Giyanow was born a Sikh in Khotra, in the Punjab of India, in 1962. Daughter of a mill worker, she came to England with her family in 1968. At school (Foundry Road, Winson Green), Giyanow began to become interested in Christianity and began to study further. At the age of 15 or 16 she took a 3D course and then decided to confirm her newfound faith. She began to study for Readership in 2003 and was licensed in 2005.
Gloria Lawrence
Gloria was born in Jamaica, where her faith was nurtured in the Methodist Church. She is one of the most senior Caribbean Readers in the Diocese of Birmingham, and worships mainly at Aston Parish Church.
Joan Perry
Joan’s gifting is in evangelism, and she is a member of the Fellowship for Parish Evangelism. She trained for Reader ministry in the Diocese of Lichfield in 1995 and moved to Erdington in 2000 with her husband, Bill. In 2003 Joan and Bill were ‘sent out’ from St. Margaret’s, Short Heath, Erdington (now Christ the King) in response to a call from the Deanery, to St Matthew’s, which at that time had no clergy. Joan then ‘held the fort’ in Nechells until the parishes of Aston and Nechells were united.
