“Stick at it. We are a very interesting diocese, and we are unlike any other diocese in the Church of England,” was the message from David Coulston to lay people across the Diocese in Europe after becoming the first recipient of the Diocese’s new St Benedict of Nursia Award. He encouraged lay people to value the diversity of the Diocese and the opportunities it offers for service and witness. “We are a diverse, polyglot mix of people, which adds, I think, greatly to our worship,” he said. “On any Sunday, we can have people from all sorts of different Christian backgrounds, and sometimes none, who come together to worship our Lord.” 

His wife, Margaret Coulston, offered equally simple and heartfelt advice: “Listen to your heart and go forward… in faith.” Their words reflect the spirit of lay ministry across the Diocese, where thousands of people serve faithfully in chaplaincies, communities and workplaces.

The St Benedict of Nursia Award was recently introduced by Bishop Robert in the Diocese in Europe as a way of recognising exceptional and distinguished service by a lay person. Conferred at the Bishop’s discretion, the award celebrates those whose commitment and contribution have made a significant impact on the life of the Church and beyond. It sits alongside the St Elizabeth of Hungary Award as part of a new diocesan initiative to highlight and celebrate lay ministry and service. 

Presenting the award, Bishop Robert described the honour as, “the first St Benedict of Nursia Award that we have given as a Diocese in recognition of substantial and long-standing service to our Diocese.”

He paid tribute to David’s decades of service at every level of church life, saying: “There’s really nobody in the diocese amongst our laity who I thought more deserved it because of his service at every level, from local chaplaincy, through diocese, through to the General Synod.”

The Bishop added: “I’ve known David for 20 years, and he’s been a tower of strength to me and to many of us because of his intent to do justice, to love mercy, and walk humbly with his God.”

Receiving the award, David said he felt both “humbled” and “very gratified”. Reflecting on his years of service, he said: “I’ve worked, hopefully, in the glory of our Lord to do what we’ve done”.

This first presentation of the St Benedict of Nursia Award celebrates not only one individual’s faithful ministry, but also the vital contribution of lay people across the Diocese in Europe, whose service, often carried out quietly and without recognition, continues to strengthen the Church’s witness in communities across the continent.

Read here for information about how you can be involved in nominating someone for the St Elizabeth of Hungary Award.

Meanwhile we join in grateful prayers of thanksgiving: Diocesan Prayer for Lay People