New Archdeacon of Manchester
12 February 2017 IN: People News
The Bishop of Manchester has appointed The Revd Karen Lund, 54, to be the new Archdeacon of Manchester. Karen becomes the first black female to be appointed Archdeacon in the northern province of the Church of England.
Karen came to the Diocese of Manchester from Chelmsford Diocese when she was appointed Team Vicar in the Turton Moorland Team in Bolton in 2014. Since then she has taken a lead in the diocese on raising awareness and training senior staff on unconscious bias, and has represented the diocese at events and conferences.
The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, said “I’m delighted that Karen has accepted my invitation to be the next Archdeacon of Manchester. She is a person of great warmth and empathy, combined with the resilience necessary for the demands of the role. She brings a strong grasp of the key theological and missional issues facing the Church and has a real commitment to the challenge of growth. The people and parishes of her archdeaconry and beyond will find her a good and true friend, one who will journey with them in taking the risks and rising to the opportunities that God sets before us.”
Karen said, “I feel enormously privileged to be taking up the role as the next Archdeacon of Manchester. I am completely delighted about my appointment, and look forward to meeting the people and clergy of the Archdeaconry and being part of the Bishop's Team.
“I look forward to becoming established in my role and continuing the work of Christ in loving service to all, and maintaining our diocesan values, to lovingly nurture others, labour for growth in God's church, be of service, and celebrate the fruits of mission in God's Kingdom.
“My love and thanks to everyone in Walmsley Parish and the Turton Moorland Team for mutual sharing and discipleship.”
Karen is married to Richard. She has one son. Her interests include nutrition (she is a dietary Vegan), bird watching and walking. She also enjoys music and particularly playing her flute and guitar. She has been a longstanding owner of the Shih Tzu dog breed and currently has two young dogs. She enjoys wool felting and Circle Dancing.
Karen expects to take up her new post in May.
Biography
Karen was born in the South of England in 1962, and has spent most of her life in London. She is the middle child of five children.
She was one of the first cohort of women to be ordained in 1994 as deacon and priested in 1995 in the Diocese of London, following theological training at The Queen's College, Birmingham.
She served as curate in St John's Southall Green, 1994 - 1997 and as Associate Vicar at St Barnabas, Northolt Park 1997 - 2000 in the London Diocese, before taking up her first incumbency in the Medway Towns in Rochester Diocese 2000 - 2008.
She then went on to study for a theological degree, awarded by the then Canterbury Christ Church College.
Her next appointment took her to Chelmsford, 2008 – 2014, as Lay Discipleship Advisor for the Bradwell Episcopal Area as well as responsibility for the parish of Roxwell, as a dual role appointment.
Karen then moved in 2014 to her outgoing appointment as Team Vicar in the Turton Moorland Team, in Bolton, Manchester.