It was a privilege for Churches Together in England (CTE) to present the Outstanding Ecumenical Leadership Award, to Bishop Dr Esme Beswick MBE at the Ministers’ Appreciation Ball. Few people have shaped the ecumenical landscape in England with such courage and longevity. For more than fifty years, Bishop Esme has dedicated her life to breaking down barriers between Christian traditions and championing racial justice. This award recognised a life of service and a legacy that has transformed the way churches relate to one another across our nation.
Bishop Esme is a true pioneer. As the founder and President of the Joint Council of Churches for All Nations (JCCAN), she created one of the most significant ecumenical networks connecting Black Majority Churches with the wider Church ecumenical movements in Britain. She became the first Black woman to serve as a President of Churches Together in England (2002–2006), representing Pentecostal, Orthodox, Lutheran and Quaker traditions.
CTE General Secretary Bishop Mike Royal reflected: “We stand on the shoulders of giants! We honour Bishop Dr Esme Beswick as the first Black woman President of CTE, who walked a path enabling others in the future to run.”
Throughout her ministry she has served as Chair of the Brixton Council of Churches, Borough Dean of Lambeth, a member of the British Council of Churches and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, President of the Christian Muslim Forum, adviser to Government through the Inner Cities Religious Council, hospital chaplain, and an advocate for migrants, racial equality and community cohesion. Her influence has reached from local communities in Brixton and Stockwell to Canterbury Cathedral, Windsor Castle and the national life of the church.
What makes Bishop Esme’s contribution remarkable is that she entered many of these spaces at a time when Black Pentecostal voices, and particularly Black women, were rarely represented around national decision-making tables. Following the Brixton uprisings, she became a trusted bridge-builder between churches, civic leaders, politicians and local communities, helping to foster understanding during a deeply divided period in Britain’s history.
She also played a significant role in the formation of Churches Together in England itself, signed the first Presidents’ Covenant before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Golden Jubilee celebrations, and has consistently demonstrated that ecumenism flourishes when relationships are rooted in humility and the reconciling love of Christ. Her pioneering witness paved the way for future generations of Pentecostal leaders to take their place within the wider ecumenical movement.
As someone now serving within the ecumenical movement, I am deeply aware that many of the opportunities my generation enjoys today exist because leaders like Bishop Esme faithfully persevered before us.
We are equally grateful to Rev David Shosanya and the Ministers’ Appreciation Ball team for hosting such an inspirational evening of celebration. In a culture that can be quick to overlook faithful service, it was a joy to honour a woman whose ministry has left a significant mark on the church in England. Congratulations, Bishop Dr Esme Beswick MBE and thank you for showing us what unifying leadership looks like. May your extraordinary legacy continue to inspire generations to come.
From the archives: In 2019, Bishop Esme reflected on 50 years in ministry.
Main photo: Bishop Mike Royal and Bishop Dr Esme Beswick MBE