Home > News > Latest News > Round up of Christians recognised on the 2021 New Year’s Honours list

Round up of Christians recognised on the 2021 New Year's Honours list

06 January 2022

Sun 02 Jan 2022 by Kelly Valencia

Clergy and church workers from all parts of the UK have been recognised in the New Year's Honours, especially acknowledging their work throughout the pandemic.

Occupational Therapist Pippa Cramer has been decorated with an MBE for her work with the Church of England’s “The Daily Hope” project.

The pastoral care and seniors minister at Holy Trinity church in Surrey co-founded the free national phone line in April 2020. It offered music, prayers and full church services for those who struggle with the digital church and found themselves isolated as a result of the pandemic.

Speaking to Premier, she confessed to being a bit “overwhelmed” with the honour but hoped it will help their mission against ageism.

“My feeling is that [older people] deserve the MBE for their courage and their bravery for keeping going in the most horrendous situations,” she said. “I'm so thrilled and delighted that this hopefully will help with our kind of mission, against ageism and to raise the profile of this very precious generation who so often sadly get a bit forgotten about,” Cramer continued.

Founder of a church community with a special focus on those struggling with addiction and mental health issues in Leeds, Rev Jonathan Swales, has been awarded an MBE.

During the pandemic, Lighthouse Church provided pastoral care and food parcels for those most vulnerable who were unable to stay at home alone. It also runs a Christian Day Centre 6 days a week.

Rev Jonathan said: “Our intention at Lighthouse, whatever befalls in the coming months is to share the saving message of Jesus and offer Christ-shaped pastoral care, in word and deed, to those battered and bruised by the storms of life. I count it as a real privilege not only to receive this award but to lead such a dedicated, skilled and compassionate team’.

Also receiving an MBE are Rev Steven Leo Bunting for charitable services to the community in Swansea, Rev Dr Samuel Grant for services to the community in Carrickfergus, County Antrim and Rev Canon David Stanley Chadwick Wyatt for services to Homeless People and to the community in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Vatican expert on Islam, Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald was awarded an MBE for services to Interfaith and Interchurch Partnerships. The Salvation Army secretary for Communications, Lieutenant-Colonel Dr Dean Pallant was also awarded the honour.

Rev Dr Susan Salt from Lancashire has been awarded a British Empire Medal for taking a break from her church to do shifts at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Accepting the award, she told Premier she didn’t expect the award but that she was “only doing what a huge number of other people have done.”

“In a sense, I recognise the honour as much for all the medics, but also all the clergy who’ve worked and have been working amazingly hard, and in very difficult circumstances over the last two years to support and enable people to not only survive but to find places to be and in the midst of this pandemic,” Rev Susan said.

Rev Wayne Matthew Davies in Ludlow, Shropshire, Rev Archibald Murdoch Ford in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Rev Rumley Myles Godfrey in Oxfordshire, Rev Keith Leslie Osmond-Smith in Telford and Rev Donald Edgar Smith in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex have also been awarded BEMs for their service to the community, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

An OBE was awarded to the founding partner of the Good Faith Partnership, Dr Rusell Rook, for services to social action and to Rev James Cruddas, a Methodist minister and deputy director of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for his public service. He is one of four Christians from Raynes Park Community Church in London to be recognised. Phil and Wendy Wall, the founders of 'We See Hope' received MBE's, along with Chris Hickford.

Stephen Crawford from Country Antrim received a British Empire Medal for founding the ministry Coaching for Christ.

Kathleen McKee of Belfast New Life City Church also recieved an MBE.

Ken Dunn from Clifton Methodist Church Rotherham has been awarded an MBE for services to Lesotho and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Pamela Tolhurst, a church leader at Gillingham United Reformed Church has received an MBE for services to the local community.

Article used with grateful thanks to Premier Christian News