Clergy Handbook

This handbook brings together the essential information, expectations, and resources for clergy serving in the Diocese of Peterborough. It supports you in your ministry, helps you navigate diocesan structures, and provides clarity on practical matters.

Welcome from the Bishop of Peterborough

The Right Reverend Debbie Sellin

Dear Friends in Christ,

It is a great joy to welcome you to ministry within the Diocese of Peterborough. Whether you are newly ordained, newly licensed, or continuing your service in a new parish or role, I am deeply grateful for the gifts, experience, and faithfulness you bring to this shared calling.

Our diocese is a place of rich history and vibrant diversity, stretching across Northamptonshire, Rutland, and the city of Peterborough. Each community has its own story, its own challenges, and its own opportunities for the Gospel to take root and flourish.

Clergy life is a profound privilege, but it is also demanding. You will walk with people in moments of celebration and sorrow, hope, and uncertainty. You will preach the Word, break bread, pray with the weary, and stand alongside those who seek God’s presence in their lives. In all of this, I want you to know that you are not alone. The diocese is committed to supporting your wellbeing, nurturing your ministry, and helping you to flourish in the vocation God has entrusted to you.

This handbook is offered as a companion and guide. It gathers the essential information you need for your ministry here – practical details, policies, expectations, and sources of support. It is not intended to be burdensome, but rather to give clarity and confidence as you navigate the rhythms of parish life and diocesan structures.

Above all, I pray that your ministry in this diocese will be marked by joy, resilience, and a deepening sense of God’s grace. May you find companions on the journey, moments of rest and renewal, and the courage to lead with compassion and hope. Thank you for your willingness to serve Christ and His Church in this place. It is a privilege to share this ministry with you.

With every blessing in Christ,