A NEW vicar has been welcomed at a Willaston church.
The Lord Bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster, assisted by the Archdeacon, the Ven Dr Michael Gilbertson and the Rural Dean, Revd Beth Glover, conducted the licensing of Revd Stephen Bazely as priest-in-charge of Christ Church, Willaston.
The congregation of 180 included the Dean of Chester Cathedral, other visiting clergy and readers, civic dignitaries, the Mayor of Ellesmere Port and Neston Brian Jones and Mrs Jones, and regular worshippers as well as friends and family and other well-wishers from Deane church and further afield.
Stephen, 34, is married to Joanna and they have a 20-month-old daughter, Grace. Stephen comes to Christ Church having served as curate at Deane Parish in Bolton.
His career before his training for ministry included IT training and support and web design and marketing for Oxford Brookes University, at which he obtained a first-class degree in media technology.
He then spent three years in St James’s Church, Muswell Hill, London as a ministry assistant specialising in working with the youth group and young adults, as well as a brief time helping individuals with special educational needs at St James’s Primary School.
Stephen completed his training for the church by obtaining a BA degree in theological and pastoral studies from Oak Hill College, Southgate, London.
