The Revd Canon Beverley Mason, Vicar of All Saints, Bingley, has been appointed as Archdeacon of Richmond & Craven in the Ripon Episcopal Area.
Bishop Nick says, “Following interview by a panel drawn from across the diocese, I am delighted that Beverley Mason has agreed to be appointed as the next Archdeacon of Richmond & Craven. Beverley brings wide experience of both the church and wider world, and, from a firm base in anglo-catholicism, brings both passion for the good news of Jesus Christ and commitment to the growth of the church. She will bring important perspectives to the strategic direction of the diocese as well as pastoral encouragement to the parishes and people in her archdeaconry.”
A former London stockbroker, Beverley came to faith traversing Africa. Then, after working for Christian charities, she studied theology at Chichester and trained for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol. After a curacy in the Diocese of Rochester, she became vicar of an Anglo-Catholic parish in south London where she was also Area Dean.
In Bingley, where she has been since 2012, a local journalist wrote: "she is a popular and recognisable figure. Her infectious personality and fresh ideas have helped congregations grow at the church, which is at the heart of community”.
Beverley, who is also a member of the College of Evangelists and the Leading your Church into Growth Team, says, “It has been a privilege to live and work among the people in Bingley. The parish church is a very special place. Together, we have stirred the imagination, explored possibilities and creatively proclaimed the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“I am very much looking forward to working with Bishop James and clergy and lay leaders in Richmond & Craven, meeting and getting to know parishes and playing my part in Bishop Nick’s shared vision to build a confident Christian presence in West Yorkshire & the Dales. My work will take me into breathtaking landscapes, which I relish!"
Her hobbies include exploring the Yorkshire Dales with her dog, St James, open air rock gigs and studying ancient and classical Greece.