On June 1, James Tydeman was inducted as pastor of The Lees Chapel, Lapworth in Warwickshire.
A graduate of WEST, he had been inducted as an assistant in February 2014, and the June appointment saw the church’s previous pastor, Gerald Tanner, move to Wycliffe Independent Church to become an associate pastor of this active and growing church in Sheffield.
As Gerald considered his move, with the desire that the church in Lapworth would not be left pastor-less he and James began working alongside each other in February. Furthermore, as this would be James’s first pastorate, Monyhull Church, South Birmingham, agreed to provide ongoing mentoring support, in the person of their retired associate, John Tindall. James will also be able to call on the experience of his father-in-law, Colin Tamplin, the senior pastor at Monyhull Church.
As James was recognised as the new pastor at The Lees, Gerald was welcomed into the associate pastorate at Wycliffe Independent Church on June 14. The ‘Welcome Service’ was led by Wycliffe’s pastor, Ed Collier. The preacher was Colin Tamplin. He preached from 1 Peter 5:1-4 on the importance of a Christ-like leader with the heart of a Servant, a Shepherd and a Steward.
Much rejoicing has taken place at the evidences of the Lord’s sovereign providences that have guided the appointments and both churches pray that God’s purposes for the work in Lapworth and Sheffield will continue to unfold under God’s gracious blessing.
