"I am delighted that Fiona has joined us as Archdeacon of Ludlow."
The Venerable Fiona Gibson was collated as Archdeacon of Ludlow during a service of Choral Evensong at St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow on Sunday 25 April.
She will be made a Prebendary alongside Revd. Nick Read, OBE at a service to be held at Hereford Cathedral on Sunday 2 May. Prebendary is an honorary title given to senior clergy in the diocese.
Hereford is the second diocese Fiona has served in, having previously served in St Albans where she was ordained in 2011.
The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Revd Richard Jackson, said: “I am delighted that Fiona has joined us as Archdeacon of Ludlow. She brings a strong combination of faith, experience, strategic vision, theological thinking, and passion. She is a key person in our senior team and will help us live out our vision in this Diocese including South Shropshire where she lives.”
Archdeacon Fiona said: “I am delighted to join the Diocese of Hereford and will be focusing on three key things in parallel with my general responsibilities. First, supporting all our churches in seeking new opportunities for mission in every local community as we find fresh ways to share the timeless message of the gospel.
Second, encouraging and supporting clergy because the role can sometimes feel complex and isolated, particularly in our rural church settings where there may be fewer teams available on the ground, which can place a heavy burden on our clergy who often have responsibility for multiple parishes.
And thirdly, working alongside our Intergenerational Ministers and Education team, I want to inspire and encourage more families, young people, and particularly the children in our many church schools, to find out for themselves what difference a relationship with Jesus can make to their lives.”