Experienced Chief Executive recruited from Manchester to Notts 

A former commercial director for Traidcraft, who is currently running administration for the Church of England in Manchester, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham.

Nigel Spraggins (48), has a wide range of experience in both local government, commercial and business management. He will take up the new post in November 2007 from the current Chief Executive, the Ven Peter Hill, who will be able to be Archdeacon of Nottingham full-time.

Nigel said: “I am looking forward to moving to a diocese with both city and rural parishes and again having the opportunity to engage with rural areas, where I have spent much of my life. I am also keen to build and develop partnerships with local authorities and business leaders, so as to better deliver the mission of the Church.” Nigel said he and others in the national church were impressed with how the diocese had adjusted its governance, de-layering committees and creating a structure of accountable executive decision-making which enables a quicker response to changing circumstances

The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd George Cassidy said:"I'm delighted at the new appointment. Our new Diocesan Chief Executive comes to us with the considerable experience he has gained as Diocesan Secretary in Manchester. He brings to the job competence, focus, vision and a reputation for hard work. I'm looking forward to welcoming him to the senior staff team in the diocese in November."

Michael Arlington, Chair of Finance for the Diocese and the appointment panel, said:

“We received a large number of highly qualified applicants for the post of Chief Executive. It is both an encouragement and an affirmation of the reputation and work of all in the diocese that we have been able to attract an experienced Church of England Chief Executive to lead our team. “

Nigel Spraggins was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where his parents were missionaries. After returning to England he spent most of his childhood in London and Essex, where his father was an Assemblies of God pastor in a pioneer mission role. His mother trained as a teacher and became head of RE before she retired to live in Nottingham.

Nigel graduated from Bath University with a BSc(Hons) degree in Sociology and Social Work. He also gained his social work qualifications and went on to work for Dorset Social Services with the elderly, mentally infirm. From this post he went to work in Somerset with a children and family team, living in the community he worked with.

His first move into the business sector was as a personnel manager for Clarks Shoes in Bridgwater, transferring into operations and being responsible for managing production within the shoe factory. From there he went on to run a printing company in Glastonbury and then to be general manager of Goldenfry Foods in Wetherby, Yorkshire.

It was while Nigel and his wife Sandra were living in Yorkshire that they started attending their local Anglican Church in Tollerton, just outside York.

He explained: “We bought a house on a new estate and later discovered that the local church had been praying over this former Glebe land which they had sold and they had prayed for a drummer. I am a classically trained percussionist. It wasn’t long before I was playing the drums at the church!”

Nigel was soon confirmed and looking for other ways to serve God through his work.

His first experience of working for a Christian organisation was as the Commercial Director for Traidcraft which he took up in 1997. He was responsible for overseeing how the producers in the developing world were able to get all the products into the company’s Gateshead warehouse. He visited many African and Asian countries and said the experience had strengthened his strong affinity with Africa. He moved to his current post as Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Manchester in 2001, after Traidcraft and its sister charity re-merged, shedding posts.

Talking about his work in Manchester he said strengthening collaboration across different sections of the diocesan administration had been a key part of his work. The diocese has also been instrumental in launching some key national initiatives including ‘Backtochurch Sunday’ campaign - now rolling out across hundreds of parishes in the Church of England this September. Other key initiatives and campaigns have included God Friday – offering special services designed for newcomers on Good Friday and the Halloween Choice campaign, run in conjunction with the Church House Publishing and the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. This innovative campaign challenged supermarkets and other outlets to offer alternatives to the money-spinning ghost and witches merchandise.

Nigel says he enjoys the breadth of work in his role in the diocese, working with good colleagues and being engaged at every level with local authorities and local business. He has been the North West representative for the Diocesan Secretaries liaison group and a member of national church panels and groups overseeing finance and other areas of mission and ministry.

Nigel is married to Sandra, who works as a Vet’s receptionist. They both share a love of dogs and have three black curly coated retrievers, which they show and have all qualified for Crufts. Nigel also enjoys amateur dramatics, playing the drums and a range of country sports.

ends

For further information and photos contact Rachel Farmer tel 01636 817218 mobile 077 121 96381

Rachel Farmer

Director of Communications
Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham
(the Church of England across Nottinghamshire)
Dunham House
Westgate, Southwell, Notts
NG25 0JL
Tel: 01636 817218 mobile 077 12196381