Eric Wiles has been appointed in a voluntary capacity as the
new Deputy Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance and
Chair of the Investment and Glebe Committee.
Eric is a member of St. Kenelm’s Church in Upton Snodsbury.
He is a Chartered Accountant by background, and former
member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ National
Council. He has spent most of his career in the Asset Finance
division at Midland Bank/ HSBC. For the last 15 years he worked in a specialised
leasing company within HSBC (latterly sold by the bank) which leased trains to train
operating companies in the UK and across Europe. Eric is now semi-retired, but still
undertakes the occasional freelance consultancy assignment.
He said: “I saw the post of Deputy Chair of the DBF advertised and it seemed to fit with
my skillset. I’m currently Treasurer for the Bowland Benefice Council, but felt I wanted
to give more back to the Church and this seemed like a good opportunity to do it. It’s
also an interesting way to learn more about the Church of England and develop my faith
in a different context.”
Eric was brought up as a Methodist but lapsed when he was in his teens. He and his
family have been worshipping at St. Kenelm’s for the past 25 years.
“I know Peter Seward will be a very hard act to follow, but I am looking forward to the
new challenge that this role will bring. I’ve previously been the Treasurer of the charity
Asthma UK and was Chairman and Treasurer of RoSPA. Some of the new responsibilities
will, therefore, be familiar, but there will be new challenges and opportunities – not least
learning the intricacies of Glebe Land and the complexity of the Church of England!”
Please pray for Eric as he takes up this role and also for Peter Seward who retired from
this post earlier this year.
Stourbridge Deanery – Rural Dean: Andrew Sillis; Lay Chair: John Nicholson
Diocese of Newcastle: Bishop Christine Hardman with Bishop Mark Tanner (Berwick)
Diocese of Moere (Molde) (Norway): Bishop Ingeborg Midttoemme
Diocese of Ontario (Canada): Bishop George Bruce
Coadjutor Bishop (Canada): Bishop Michael Oulton