A new lay minister has been licensed at a Worcester church.

Rob Little is taking on the role at St John in Bedwardine.

The service was conducted by Bishop Alan Winton, former Bishop of Thetford in the Diocese of Norwich, who is now an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Worcester.

Licensed lay ministers, sometimes known as readers, are authorised to exercise a ministry of preaching and teaching and offer lay leadership in mission.

They undergo a two-year training course before being admitted to the role.

After being licensed, they carry out a wide range of tasks within their parishes and beyond, especially helping others to reflect on their faith and how it relates to their daily lives.

Mr Little has been a member of the church for more than 20 years, serving as an authorised lay minister (ALM) for a number of years before training for reader ministry at Queen’s Theological College in Birmingham.

He said: "I had been feeling very conscious of the limits of my ALM role and although I didn’t think I wanted to move into a more formal ministry role, the idea started to take route after I attended an online event looking at the different types of ministry available.

"I realised that I wanted to learn more about my faith and then share that knowledge with others.

"The training was challenging but enjoyable and I am looking forward to my new role with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as I put into practice everything that I’ve learnt.

"It has also sparked a hunger in me to continue to learn and read more as I continue to explore my faith."

Co-warden of readers Kath Davis preached at Sunday’s licensing service.

She said: "Today is a beginning and not an ending.

"Even though you have finished the official training, you now need to build on that foundation as you continue to learn to be the person that God wants you to be.

"There is always something new to learn in our journey of faith as we take that understanding into our hearts and lives.

"My prayer for all of us is that our relationship with God continues to deepen every day.”