The Archbishop of Canterbury has announced this year’s recipients of the Lambeth Awards, and they include a well-known and popular colleague from the Diocese of Leicester.
Alan Fletcher, who worships at St Mary de Castro Church in the city, has been awarded the Canterbury Cross for Services to the Church of England.
The prestigious award has been granted for his outstanding service to the Church of England Pensions Board over a period of 11 years and to the Church of England more generally through service on the General Synod, to the Diocese of Leicester, to Leicester Cathedral and as a member of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group.
In total 32 awards were given this year to people from across the Church and beyond in fields including evangelism, the Religious life, safeguarding, ecumenism, theology and interfaith relations.
The recipients include people from New Zealand, Kenya and the USA, as well as a number of others in the UK and Ireland.
The awards are usually presented at a ceremony at Lambeth Palace, which this year has had to be cancelled due to Covid-19.
While Alan is disappointed not to be formally receiving his award – an occasion he was looking forward to sharing with his wife and son – he is extremely grateful for the accolade.
He says: “I have been really fortunate to work, and to continue to work, with a range of high quality people – both the paid executives at the Pensions Board and the Diocese of Leicester, and the many inspiring unpaid PB Trustees and members of the Leicester Diocese Investment Committee and the Leicester Cathedral Finance Committee.
“I take the view that the Canterbury Cross is a tribute to all of them as well as a recognition of the work I have done.”
Alan has put his substantial experience and expertise in financial services to the considerable benefit of the Church of England.
His passion for socially responsible investment has led to a considerable expansion of the Church of England’s influence in this area, including the development of the Transition Pathway Initiative.
He says: “The work they have done during my time as Investment Committee Chair has passed all expectations and has led to all sorts of beneficial changes in the attitudes of investors and major corporates towards ethical investment, ESG, sustainability and climate change.”
Alan was a member of the General Synod between 2007 and 2010, and currently chairs the Investment Committee of Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance and serves as a member of Leicester Cathedral’s Finance Committee.
He is also a volunteer mini-bus driver for the Winter Night Shelter operated by One Roof Leicester, and most recently became a trustee of Soundcafe Leicester, helping to secure the charity a grant of £10,000.
It is clear Alan’s faith is fundamental to his work. He says: “I have no doubt that I was given the ability to perform effectively in these areas by God and that I was called to do this work as part of my Christian journey.”
His involvement with the Soundcafe came about after he saw its choir perform in the cathedral and, having sung in church choirs for many years himself, was ‘stunned’ to hear them sing.
He explains: “It was astonishing to see a group which included a range of obviously vulnerable and disadvantaged people perform with such obvious joy to such a high musical standard.
“Before I left, I read the literature about Soundcafe, gave a cash donation and saw that the charity was looking for trustees with a legal and financial background. So I replied to the email address, subsequently met the totally inspiring Revd Helen Hayes and the rest is history!”
In talking about Alan and his outstanding work, Bishop Martyn noted the considerable impact he has made in the diocese, as well as nationally, including the significant grant Alan secured for the Soundcafe.
Bishop Guli also offered her congratulations to recipients of the Lambeth Awards 2020, in particular to John Mullin Clark, whom she nominated.
Mr Clark has been awarded The Cross of St Augustine for Services to the Anglican Communion for his outstanding and selfless contribution to the life and witness of churches of the Anglican Communion, especially in the Middle East and specifically Iran, over 50 years.