Local Leaders have always played a vital role in the life of the Church. This local leadership takes many forms, and, in this series, we will be meeting just some of the many different people sharing their gifts as Local Leaders in different ways.

In this article, Lesley explains why she thinks Reader ministry is so important.

Lesley Michell is 81 years old and recently celebrated her 30th year of being a Reader – and she has no plans of giving up anytime soon.

Walking into St Mary’s Church, Penzance, Lesley has a warm, welcoming smile and a calm, loving presence as she greets those arriving to prepare a soup lunch for the community.

Serving for Jesus has always been one of her first priorities and this has been reflected throughout her life – including being on a school panel discussing faith, running a branch of Mother’s Union, being a vicar’s wife and helping with his secretarial work, working as a church warden and more.

Lesley became a Reader – a licensed lay minister – in 1995.  One of her highlights of being a Reader, she says, is being able to welcome new people into the church and seeing God work in their lives.

“I am glad to have had an opportunity to do Reader ministry,” she says. “It makes you feel a responsibility and drives you prayerfully to your knees.

“If you said to me I would still be doing what I am doing now – going on 82, I would have thought ‘you’re kidding’, but I am still doing it and loving it so much.

“If I still have the faith to do it, I will do it.”  – Lesley Michell

Lesley is a key member of her church and helps lead worship, preach, carry out baptism prep and follow up, coordinate Celtic morning prayers, write newsletter articles, and be part of networking and pastoral duties. She is also involved in several community outreach programmes such as Night Church, Poverty Forum, secular community events, and weekday hosting in the church.

Born in Poole, Dorset, she describes herself as a ‘cradle’ Christian – following her elder siblings to church from the moment she could walk, around 18 months.

She recalls: “They had a children’s mission when I was seven, with club activities in the evenings, and I was presented with the idea that we should ask Jesus into our hearts, and that’s where it all began.”

When she got older, she moved to Cambridge to study Geography and this was where she met her husband Noel, who was raised in Redruth.

She says: “He was a year older than me. People talk about love at first sight, well, let’s say it was very quick getting to know him and feeling we were right for each other.”

When she asked what he was thinking of doing with his life, she was delighted with the answer.

She remembers: “He said, ‘well I think I might teach for a while but I’m thinking that God is perhaps calling me to ministry’ and I said ‘oh’, and he thought it meant perhaps he had blown his chances.

“I had a split second to think how I should reply, and my answer was ‘oh, the only thing I could ever imagine myself being is married to a clergyman’ – because women couldn’t be ordained or have any real place in the church officially at that time.”

Lesley had always felt she wanted to do something in ministry, she knew God wanted to use her in some way – so she was delighted with Noel’s response because being the wife of a vicar could be very involved and hands on.

She said: “He was a bit startled by my reply, but the rest is history.”

They got married when she was 21 years old and together they had three children. Her husband worked as a curate in the Midlands before moving to Liverpool Diocese in 1969. They stayed here until he retired from paid ministry in 2007.

She said: “We always saw the ministry as a partnership.”

It was in Liverpool she joined Mother’s Union – a few years later she was appointed by the Bishop as president of that diocese’s Mother’s Union. During this time she was given permission to preach and speak about the Mother’s Union.

In 1990, it was the election year for General Synod, Lesley was elected to the House of Laity. This was the time when there was to be a debate on whether women should be ordained and so she wanted to be one of those voting.

She says: “I wasn’t fully persuaded in either direction, I could see the arguments on both sides.

“I’m not a feminist in the least, but I think women should stand alongside men on equal terms.”

She listened to all sides of the argument before making any decisions. She also ‘prayed as I have never prayed before’.

“I simply said to God, please help me to vote the way you want it to be,” she adds.

On the morning of the debate, she was still open to having her mind changed, but it wasn’t.

She says: “I voted yes, and I don’t regret it.”

When her role with Mother’s Union came to an end, she decided to follow the path of becoming a Reader.

She says: “I thought, ‘what will I do when I finish my time with Mother’s Union?’  I thought about becoming a Reader – push the door and see what happens.”

She took up the training and hasn’t looked back.

Lesley says: “As with ministry of the clergy, Readers – men and women – do far more than simply stand up in services. They are the hands and feet available for any kind of caring ministry or outreach ministry in the church. According to your gifts, you could be a real strength to those sharing in that kind of work in your parish.”

“Lesley embodies exactly the kind of faithful and curious culture that the church needs. She loves God and is always open to new ways of serving him, the church and the communities she loves.

“This deep well of faith enables her to face uncertainty, change and challenge with grace and hope.

“Maybe we should start a new campaign – #bemorelesley’” – Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St Germans & Bishop to the Armed Forces.  

What do you need to be a Reader?

Lesley says: “If you are someone with an active faith and regularly sharing in church life, have you thought of training for Reader ministry? Because in that capacity you will have opportunities to share your faith to all sorts of people in all sorts of situations. You would receive training, so if you’re put off because don’t think you know enough – that’s for someone else to decide.”

Isaac McNish, Head of Ministry at The Diocese of Truro, says:  “Lesley’s journey is testament to the profound impact that Readers / Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) can have—bringing warmth, wisdom, and a deep sense of service to church life.

“Readers/LLMs, like Lesley, have a key role and are vital in supporting worship, nurturing faith journeys, and reaching out with compassion to those around them. Their prayerful commitment and willingness to serve in so many ways—whether leading worship, supporting pastoral care, or engaging in community outreach—make a real difference and embody the love of Christ in action.

“Lesley’s story is a wonderful example of how, at any stage of life, we can respond to God’s call with energy and enthusiasm. It is a privilege to celebrate such faithful service and to see how the gifts of Readers continue to bless our churches and communities.”

 

If you would like to tell your story about being a Reader send us an email.