Wrea Green and Lytham church goer awarded BEM honour

A former church warden has been honoured with the British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to fostering and to the clergy.
Sue JonesSue Jones
Sue Jones
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Whilst churchwarden at St Paul’s, Sue was part of the Parochial Church Council that decided to start an outreach centre in the village to replace a village Mission Hut.

She said: “I was shocked and very surprised. I feel very humbled to be honoured in this way. I ran this venture with 42 volunteers for eight years. It takes the form of a charity shop, where people can come and sit, have a coffee and talk.”

The Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable Michael EverittThe Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable Michael Everitt
The Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable Michael Everitt
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Sue was part of a small group that set up the Family Thursday Service at St Paul’s and she chaired the very active church social committee.

Support for the wider work of The Church of England in Lancashire included leading a team of parishioners that catered for three Clergy Quiet Days.

Sue helped set up the Family Thursday Service at St Paul’s and she chaired the very active church social committee. Support for the wider work of The Church of England in Lancashire included leading a team of parishioners that catered for three Clergy Quiet Days held at St Paul’s. She was also part of the organising team of the Diocese’s Big Days Out at AKS School Lytham.

When the Archbishop of York visited the Diocese in 2011, Sue was also invited to join the committee which planned a celebration service at the Cathedral.

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Sue fit all this round looking after her three children, as well as four daughters she adopted after fostering them.

She said: “My husband Terry and I decided that was enough and gave up fostering in case we adopted any more children! We now have eleven grandchildren; eight boys and three girls!”

“We came to Lytham in 1990 when my husband moved here for work and started to worship at St Paul’s. When I’d finished at the charity shop, I continued to be part of the team that ran the Thursday Family Service there.

“Then began a personal tussle; when I felt I should leave St Paul’s as God seemed to be telling me that I that I was needed elsewhere. I moved to St Nicholas, and my husband Terry joined me a year later.”

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At St Nicholas, Sue is now a member of the Family Service Team, a member of the PCC and assists at Communion and uses her catering experience on the social committee!

The Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable Michael Everitt, congratulated Sue on behalf of the Diocese adding: “Sue’s work with children, especially in welcoming them into her life and home is inspirational. This combined with her vibrant practical faith means she is someone I rejoice in for her Christian discipleship.”

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