Early Ministry Development (EMD) for Readers

The support and formation of newly ordained and licensed ministers is a profoundly important part of diocesan life. The IME2 programme for Curates, and the EMD programme for new Readers are carefully curated to include key topics and resources for the equipping of new ministers for today’s church.

Please see below for important dates and events which are a requirement for all clergy and Readers in the IME2 & EMD programmes.

The normal grants are available for clergy and Readers in IME phase 2.

The licensing of Readers will take place at The Cathedral And Abbey Church Of St Alban on Sunday 27th September 2026, at 4pm.

For the avoidance of doubt, the training year runs July – July – as such, those licensed in September 2026 are “Year 1 cohort” until 1st July 2027, when they become “Year 2 cohort” and so on – even though “Year 1” isn’t a full 12 months.

Curate and Reader training – 2026-2027

2026-27 dates:

Saturday 18th July 2026 – 9am – 5pm (Lunch Included)
Only for curates and those Readers licensed in 2024 or 2025
The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick MK45 1AH
Sunday 18th October 2026 – 9am – 5pm (Lunch Included)
Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Timbold Drive, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BZ
Saturday 16th January 2027 – 9am – 5pm (Lunch Included)
Hertfordshire Development Centre, Robertson House, 6 Six Hills Way, Stevenage SG1 2FQ
Saturday 13th March 2027 (9am) – Sunday 14th March 2027 (5pm) – Residential weekend
Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Timbold Drive, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BZ – Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes
Saturday 15th May 2027 – 9am – 5pm (Lunch Included)
The Focolare Centre for Unity, 69 Parkway, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6JG

Curate and Reader training – 2027-2028

Saturday 17th July 2027 – 9am – 5pm (Lunch Included)
Only for curates and those Readers licensed in 2025 or 2026
Venue TBC

Saturday 16th October 2027 (9am) – Sunday 17th October 2027 (5pm) – Residential weekend
Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Timbold Drive, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BZ – Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes

Sunday 23rd Jan 2028 – 9am – 5pm (Lunch Included)
Venue TBC

Saturday 11th March 2028 (9am) – Sunday 12th March 2028 (5pm) – Residential weekend
Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Timbold Drive, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BZ – Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes

Saturday 13th May 2028 – 9am – 5pm (Lunch Included)
Venue TBC