The Revd Canon Clare MacLaren has spoken of her “feeling of hope and joy for the future” after becoming the new Canon Provost of Sunderland Minster.
Her installation service, led by the Acting Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Sarah Clark, took place on Sunday 14 April.
Clare is well known in the North East and brings a wealth of experience having served at Newcastle Cathedral for eight years as Canon for Music and Liturgy. She previously spent over 20 years as a parish priest in Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.
“God has exciting plans for the future of the Minster,” she said. “I am delighted to be here, and at my installation service there was a great feeling of hope and joy for the future.
“The Lord Lieutenant was there, as well as people who work across both Durham and Newcastle dioceses. It was a wonderful occasion.”
Sunderland Minster has been through a transitional period. Previous Provost Stuart Bain departed three years ago and the Revd Canon David Tolhurst, the Area Dean of Wearmouth, has filled the role on an acting basis.
Clare will now head a team which includes associate priests Chris Howson and Jacqui Tyson. They will build on the current missional work, both within the Minster and in the City of Sunderland.
In addition, the Minster will receive a share of funding allocated to Durham Diocese through the Diocesan Investment Programme, to enable transformation and church growth.
There will be an investment in the Minster’s outreach work. It will lead to the employment of two specialist mission enablers who will focus on specific areas of work, reaching out in service, growing new congregations and creating new disciples. Clare particularly hopes that the Minster will increasingly become a helpful resource to other local churches.
The Minster will also look to generate income via more concerts and events. An operations manager will be appointed to develop a business plan, as well as a part time administrator.
“I feel a strong sense of God’s call to be here in Sunderland,” said Clare. “These are exciting times for both the Minster and the wider area, with new opportunities such as the Riverside redevelopment project, and the Minster having its parish restored to it again.
“I am looking forward to getting to know Sunderland and the people. Having previously served as a parish priest in estate churches and urban priority areas, I understand the importance of the church to struggling communities.”
Clare spoke very highly of her time at Newcastle Cathedral.
“I loved my time at Newcastle Cathedral,” she said. “I was really blessed to be there at a time of enormous change. I had an extremely creative eight years there. God was very much at work. The congregation grew and became younger and more diverse. Worship was really spirit-inspired and the music went from strength to strength with (Director of Music) Ian Roberts.”
Before her arrival in Sunderland, Clare spent a very happy six months on secondment, supporting a vacancy at St George’s Jesmond.