The Clergy Conference is taking place from Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 September at Norwich Cathedral.
The conference planning team look forward to welcoming you to an inspiring and refreshing time at the Clergy Conference this September.
This year’s conference reflects the Diocesan Vision – Transformed by Christ: Prayerful, Pastoral, Prophetic. It is designed to uplift and equip us as we continue our mission and ministry. We have organised a range of speakers and events that we hope will encourage and refresh you.
Clergy Conference 2025 : Sent on 20 June
Clergy Conference 2025 : Sent on 31 July
What to expect
Our speakers
Jim Walters: Pastoral
James Walters is founding director of the LSE Faith Centre and LSE Religion and Global Society Research Unit. He is a Professor in Practice in the Department of International Relations and Chaplain to the School. Professor Walters’ books include Loving Your Neighbour in an Age of Religious Conflict (2019), Religion and the Public Sphere: New Conversations (2018) and A Christian Theology of Chaplaincy (2018). He is a Canon Theologian at Chichester Cathedral.
Ben Quash: Prayerful
Ben Quash has been Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King’s College London since 2007 and is Director of the Centre for Arts and the Sacred at King’s (ASK). Prior to that he was Dean and Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge. He runs a collaborative MA in Christianity and the Arts with the National Gallery in London, and is also Canon Theologian of both Coventry and Bradford Cathedrals.
Sharon Grenham-Thompson: Prophetic
Sharon Grenham-Thompson is Rector of the benefice of Rattlesden, Brettenham, Hitcham and Thrope Morieux in Suffolk. For 8 years she was a full-time prison chaplain, and is also a broadcaster for BBC Radio, a writer, retreat leader and Pastoral Supervisor.
Damilola Makinde
Damilola is the Evangelical Alliance’s advocacy engagement lead. Her background spans law, public policy, preaching, and worship leading. Damilola is originally from London but having grown up within a Nigerian diaspora in Ireland, her experience of tri-cultural heritage has contributed to the powerful and prophetic voice she holds today.
Zeb Soanes: after dinner speaker
Zeb presents Relaxing Evenings with Zeb Soanes on Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station. For over 20 years he was an authoritative newsreader and reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4. He presents concerts with the UK’s leading orchestras and is the author of the bestselling Gaspard the Fox series of books. Zeb’s father was for several years a Methodist minister in a joint ecumenical project in the Diocese of Norwich at Norton Subcourse.
Outline timings of conference
Day 1: Monday 22 September 2025
- 12.30pm Arrivals, registration and informal lunch
- 1.30pm Opening Eucharist and Address with Bishop Graham
- 2.45pm Welcome and Notices
- 3.00pm Bible Study with Damilola Makinde
- 4.15pm Key note address: Prophetic; Sharon Grenham-Thompson
- 5.15pm Break
- 5.30pm Festal Evensong at Norwich Cathedral
- 7.00pm Pub/Restaurant meals with senior staff
- 9.30pm Compline at Norwich Cathedral (optional)
Day 2: Tuesday 23 September 2025
- 10am Morning Worship
- 10.30am Bible Study with Damilola Makinde
- 11.15am Break
- 11.45am: Key note address: Prayerful; Ben Quash
- 12.45pm Lunch
- 2.00pm: Fringe Activities
- 5.30pm Evensong at Norwich Cathedral or alternative evening worship options; The Norwich School Chapel and The Julian Shrine.
- 7.00pm Conference Dinner in the Cathedral nave with musical entertainment and guest speaker Zeb Soanes.
Day 3 Wednesday 24 September 2025
- 10am Morning Worship
- 10.30am Bible study
- 11.15am Tea/Coffee
- 11.45am Key note address: Pastoral; Jim Walters
- 12.45pm Lunch
- 2.00pm Fringe activities
- 4.30pm Tea/Coffee
- 5.30pm Festal Evensong
Fringe activities
The clergy conference ‘fringe’ activities take place on the afternoons of Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 September.
Some of the activities require booking in advance so please read the information carefully. All of the other activities can be chosen on the day. There are two sessions each afternoon, 2-3pm and 3.30pm-4.30pm, so you can choose a maximum of two sessions on each day.
The activities in bold below must be pre-booked.
It’s completely up to you how you want to spend your afternoons of the conference and we really want you to use the conference in whatever way you most need – however, we hope that at least some of the activities on offer will be of interest to you.
For pre-booking fringe activities: please go the email sent on 31 July at the top of this page.
Tuesday 23 September: Session 1 2pm-3pm
- Clergy Wellbeing with Dr Liz Graveling-Fox
- Cathedral library tour
- Triforium Tour
- Drumming workshop
- Sainsbury Centre Tour: both sessions
- Rockland Barn Art: both sessions
- Horstead Centre: both sessions
- Parish Music with Graham Thorpe
- Cursillo Group talk
- Rosary Group
- Art in the Close
- Communications Talk
- Bishop’s Garden tour
- Pilgrimage to Julian Shrine: both sessions
Tuesday 23 September: Session 2 3.30pm-4.30pm
- Book Club with Archdeacon Keith
- Triforium Tour
- Damilola Makinde talk
- Chaplains, ‘telling our story’
- Children, Youth and Families talk
- Diocesan Strategy talk
- Bishop’s Garden tour
- Beekeeping
- Papua New Guinea pilgrimage presentation
Wednesday 24 September: Session 1 2pm-3pm
- Choir workshop with Linda Roast
- St John RC Cathedral Tower Tour
- Triforium Tour
- Book Club with Archdeacon Keith and Revd Canon Susanna Gunner
- Jim Walters, a talk on Pastoral Church
- Communications talk
- Data talk
- Discover Walsingham
- Bishop’s Garden Tour
- Rosary Group
- Pilgrimage to Mousehold Heath: both sessions
- Pilgrimage to Julian Shrine: both sessions
Wednesday 24 September: Session 2 3.30pm-4.30pm
- Damilola Makinde talk
- Cathedral library tour
- Triforium Tour
- Children, Youth and Families talk
- HR talk
- Diocesan Strategy talk
- Beekeeping introduction
- Bishop’s Garden Tour
Tuesday 23 September pre-book fringe
- ‘Surviving or Thriving? Insights into Clergy Wellbeing from the Living Ministry Research’ with Dr Liz Graveling
- Cathedral Library Tour. Explore the Cathedral’s historic library and its treasures.
- Book Club with Archdeacon Keith and Revd Canon Susanna Gunner. ‘Small Things Like These’ by Claire Keegan
- Triforium Tour Discover the upper levels of the Cathedral and its hidden past.
- Drumming workshop. From beginners onwards. Come and experience the joy of drumming.
- Rockland Barn Art. A creative afternoon exploring prayer, art and spirituality with Nick and Helen Garrard. 20 spaces in total. Make your own way there and back.
- The Horstead Centre The choice of either canoeing or archery. 28 spaces in total. 14 people for each activity. Make your own way there and back.
- Damilola Makinde talk ‘In the world, but not of the world; culturally relevant mission in a post-secular age.’
- Sainsbury Centre Tour A guided introduction and a private tour of the permanent collection followed by tea and coffee. Please make your own way there and back.
Wednesday 24 September pre-book fringe
- Choir workshop Singing together from beginners onwards with Linda Roast. A simple vocal warm up followed by a beautiful four part gospel song. No need to read music, everything will be taught by ear.
- Book Club with Archdeacon Keith and Revd Canon Susanna Gunner ‘James’ by Percival Everett. A brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.
- Cathedral Library Tour. Explore the Cathedral’s historic library and its treasures.
- Triforium Tour Discover the upper levels of the Cathedral and its hidden past.
- St John’s Roman Catholic Cathedral Tower Tour Ascend the tower for breathtaking views of the city.
- Damilola Makinde talk ‘Power in Preaching, from monotony to majesty.’
- A further chance to engage with Jim Walters and the topic of Pastoral Church Jim is one of our speakers at the clergy conference. He is the founding director of the LSE Faith Centre and LSE Religion and Global Society Research Unit.
On the day Fringe, no booking required
- Parish Music with Graham Thorpe: ‘How to make the most of music in the parish, whatever your resources.’ Tuesday 23 September: Session 1
- Art in the Close: experience the Cathedral’s new art installations. Tuesday 23 September: Session 1
- A visit to the Julian Shrine: be inspired by the story of Julian of Norwich. Tuesday 23. Wednesday 24
- Cursillo: A talk from the Norwich Anglican Cursillo Group. Tuesday 23 September: Session 1
- Communications: how to tell and share good news stories from your parish. Tuesday 23 September: Session 1 Wednesday 24 September: Session 1
- Diocesan Strategy: where are we up to? Tuesday 23: Session 1 and 2 Wednesday 24: Session 1 and 2
- Bishops Garden Tour: a tour around the oldest private garden in Norwich. Tuesday 23: Session 1 and 2. Wednesday 24: Session 1
- Rosary Group: – Fr Alaric Lewis will lead two sessions on Praying the Rosary. Tuesday 23: Session 1 Wednesday 24: Session 1
- Chaplains ‘Telling our Story’: Showing the hospitality of God in parish, chaplaincy and supervision. Tuesday 23: Session 2
- PNG pilgrimage: a presentation following the Diocesan pilgrimage in early September. Tuesday 23: Session 2
- Children, Youth and Families: Turning the volume up on the ‘Quiet Revival’ – Responding to the evidence of spiritual curiosity among children and young people. Tuesday 23: Session 2
- HR talk: Essential things you need to know about employing a member of staff. Tuesday 23: Session 2
- Beekeeping: an introduction to beekeeping with Revd Annie Blyth. Tuesday 23: Session 2. Wednesday 24: Session 2
- Data: ‘When and how will we see the fruits of our strategy? What are the Statistics for Mission and what do they really measure?’ Wednesday 24: Session 1 and Session 2
- Discover Walsingham: learn what the Shrine of Walsingham can offer you and your church communities. Wednesday 24: Session 1
- Mousehold Heath: A pilgrimage with the Dean to the evocative ruins of St Michael’s Church overlooking Norwich. Wednesday 24 September.
More details are still to come, please do look out for the emails which are titled ‘Clergy Conference’ and will be listed at the top of this page.
If you have any questions, please email sophie.bell@dioceseofnorwich.org