THE Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, has announced this year’s recipient of the Wulfstan Cross, an award which pays tribute to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the life of the Church in the Diocese of Worcester.

Phil Mitchell has recently retired as an education adviser for the diocese. In this role he was involved in leading governor, headteacher and senior leaders training, headteacher appointments, school self-evaluation meetings and annual reviews.

He has also provided significant pastoral support to a number of schools and their heads. Phil serves on both Worcester and Dudley Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education and is an Inspector for Anglican Schools. He is also the chair of governors at St Luke’s CE First School, Redditch, and before joining the diocesan team was himself a Church of England middle school head.

He was commended by the Rev Stuart Currie, chair of the board of education in the diocese.

Bishop John gave the award to Mr Mitchell in a special service in Worcester. He said: “This award was established to thank those who have given an exemplary lifetime of service in the Diocese. Our 100 church schools are a vital part of our mission and ministry in Worcestershire and Dudley and Phil has shown huge dedication in this area. I am delighted to be able to honour his work with the St. Wulfstan Cross.”

Mr Mitchell said: “It is an honour to receive this award. I have been genuinely privileged to work with the many talented and dedicated headteachers, leadership teams, staff, governors and clergy in our schools across the Diocese who give so much to the lives of our children and their families. I know that my life has been enriched by the opportunity to work with them, and accept this award with gratitude on their behalf.”

St Wulfstan lived from 1008 - 1095. He served as Bishop of Worcester under the last two Saxon kings and the first two Norman kings. After the Norman Conquest he was responsible for the dismantling of the old Saxon cathedral and the building of a new one, of which the crypt is the main part still surviving today. He was at once venerated as a saint by the people of Worcester, though he was not formally canonized until 1203. Alongside the tomb of St Oswald, his shrine was a place of pilgrimage until the Reformation.