We are delighted to invite our church school leaders to join us for a day of exploring faith in our lives and why the role of the Church of England in raising awareness of exploration around faith is so important.

Date: Thursday 27th February 2025

Time: Welcome and refreshments, 8:30 a.m., with business commencing at 9:00 a.m.

Venue: The George Hotel, Lichfield, WS13 6PR

Please Note: There is very little parking at the hotel, it is advisable to park in one of Lichfield’s long stay car parks.  Most are within a short walk of the hotel.

Cost: Schools who subscribe to the Diocesan Service Agreement can book 2 delegates at £125.00 per person. The cost to all all other schools is £250.00 per person.

Speakers include:

JJ Chalmers

 A former Royal Marine Commando, JJ has served on operations in Afghanistan. He was wounded by an IED that claimed the lives of two of his friends. JJ shares his inspiring story of recovery, his journey to a gold medal at the Invictus Games, and living his life to the fullest.

Ian Lancaster

Ian oversees both the UK Mission Team of Christians in Sport and work with the families of Young Performance Athletes. He runs with Alchester RC and is one of the leaders at Town Church, Bicester.

Arun Kataria

Arun, who holds a degree in law from Cambridge University, has broad and deep experience in church communications. In a career spanning nearly three decades in Church of England roles, he has worked for the Church Commissioners, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishops Council and as Director of Communications for St Albans Diocese. Most recently he has been a freelance consultant, supporting the Lambeth Conference, Living in Love and Faith and the Disability Task Group whose task is equipping Church of England churches for full Deaf and disabled belonging.

Paul Busby

Paul Rusby was head teacher for twenty years of three different Church of England schools and National Leader of Education. He is a SIAMS Quality Assurance Inspector and Diocesan/Trust Consultant supporting schools with spiritual flourishing, leadership and Christian distinctiveness. He is ordained with a particular interest in spirituality, poetry and leading retreats.

The Ven Dr Megan Smith

Megan originally studied medicine, specialising in Paediatric Intensive Care and, following ordination, spent a further five years juggling her curacy with full-time medical work. Megan also studied Master’s degrees in applied theology and Medical Education. Her paediatric training saw her travel to Melbourne and Toronto before she moved to Nottingham to work as a Consultant Paediatric Intensivist. Exploring a call to ordained ministry, Megan, joined the East Midlands Ministry Training Course and was ordained deacon in 2007 and priest in 2008. She combined her curacy with medical work in Wilford, Nottingham, before entering full-time ordained ministry as Vicar of Lenton in 2012. Lenton is a vibrant and diverse community, home to university campuses and many people from minority ethnic backgrounds. Her work has seen her build others in discipleship and leadership and working closely with schools and families in the community.

Booking Form