The Archdeacon of Carlisle has announced he will step away from his role to spend more time with his family.
The Venerable Lee Townend joined the Diocese of Carlisle in 2017, from the Diocese of Derby.
He has had archidiaconal responsibility for Carlisle, Penrith, Brampton and Appleby, as well as taking on the role of strategic development officer and serves as a trustee of the Carlisle Diocesan board of finance.
From October 2020, he also served as Priest in Charge of Barton, Pooley Bridge, Martindale and Watermillock.
He said: “We have enjoyed our time in Cumbria but since the end of lockdown my wife Liz and I have been praying and thinking through where God is calling us to.
“We have recently become grandparents to two baby grandsons and have older parents who we’ve hardly seen in the last six years due to distance. Therefore, we felt that God was nudging us to move back to our home county and be available for family in the short term.
“Our decision wasn’t taken lightly as we both enjoy our roles here. I will probably take a year out of full time stipendiary ministry before thinking of the next role and Liz will be spending a lot of her time with the grandchildren and our parents. If appropriate I will offer to help out in some of the local churches near to where we live.
“We are excited to be going back home and are looking forward to making over our house and possibly putting an extension on it. We are also looking forward to being able to catch up with all our extended family but, of most importance from our prayerful thinking, our joy will be in being able to see much more of our grandchildren as they grow and our parents in their old age.
“COVID has given many of us the chance to re-evaluate life and focus on what’s important in the now. We are very blessed to be in a position to step away for a short season in order to be nearer family before moving back into full time ministry in the future. For this blessing we are so thankful.
“We will miss the county and its beauty. We will miss the many people we care for in the parishes and archdeaconry. The parish is the lifeblood and heart of the Anglican church and I’m so thankful to have been alongside you.
“It has also been a great privilege and pleasure to work ecumenically with so many able colleagues in our churches of all denominations. It has also been good to work and minister under Bishop James and I’m personally thankful to him for giving me the opportunity to serve here.”
The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome, said: “It has been wonderful to work alongside Lee for nearly six years; he has been a valued member of our senior leadership team.
“There are many plates to spin as an archdeacon and even more so as one with the extra responsibilities that come with being a strategic development officer for the county’s ecumenical God for All vision. Yet Lee has always served the parishes of his archdeaconry and the God for All vision with equal passion.
“I give thanks for Lee’s commitment to grow God’s kingdom here in Cumbria during his time in ministry. He and his wife, Liz, will leave with our very best wishes and continued prayers as they spend time with their new grandchildren and in supporting their parents.”
The Diocese of Carlisle has drawn up interim cover from September 1. Although Lee and Liz are remaining in Cumbria until the end of the year, Lee will fully step away from ministry with immediate effect.
