Licensed lay Ministers (LLMs)

Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs)

Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) are lay men and women, from a wide diversity of occupations and backgrounds, who recognise a call to serve God and his world through the Church of England. 

They work in a variety of roles and situations across the Church, being authorised by the Church of England to preach and teach, to conduct or assist in conducting worship, and to assist in the pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work of the Church in the parish or area where they are licensed.

As well as their formal roles, LLMs have many informal ways of ministering by their presence, witness and listening at their places of work, at home, among their neighbours and in their local communities. They are informed lay people living out their faith in their different walks of life.

Currently in the Diocese of Ely there are 152 LLMs and they can be found in the following four areas.

• Cambridge North - 31 - includes Deaneries of Cambridge North, North Stowe, Fordham & Quy
• Cambridge South - 42 - includes Deaneries of Cambridge South, Bourn, Shingay and Granta
• Huntingdon - 41 - includes Deaneries of Huntingdon, St Ives, St Neots and Yaxley
• Wisbech - 38 - includes Deaneries Wisbech Lynn Marshland, Fincham & Feltwell, March and Ely

Forms relating to LLMs

Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) Working Agreement

LLM Annual Review form 2019

LLM Duties

Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs), may do some or all of these tasks:

• Preach
• Lead worship, except those services and parts of services specifically excluded by Canon
• Read the Old or New Testament readings, Epistle or Gospel at any service
• Lead intercessions
• Receive and present the offerings of the people
• Distribute the consecrated bread and wine to the people
• Take Communion to the sick and housebound
• Publish banns of marriage in the absence of a priest
• Undertake pastoral and educational work
• Assist any minister as the bishop may direct

Warden or Readers

The Diocese of Ely Warden of Readers is Steve Mashford, and the LLM Selection Officer is Cathy Watts. Among other duties, the Warden of Readers supports the discernment and selection of LLMs, as well as supporting those LLMs in the Diocese. You can contact Cathy on [email protected]

More information on Readers (known frequently as LLMs) can also be found on the Church of England Readers website here.