Pic: Nick Peters/National News/Lichfield Diocese
Pic: Nick Peters/National News/Lichfield Diocese

It’s often said that church and politics don’t mix – but that hasn’t stopped clergy from the Diocese of Lichfield and a group of MPs meeting for a game of Cricket in north London.

And it was the Parliamentarians who came out on top in the game at the Highgate School.

Although a friendly, there is more to the game than the pride of the Church and Parliament at stake – sibling rivalry! The Diocese of Lichfield team includes the Revd Matthew Lefroy, Team Vicar of Madeley in Telford (across the border in the Diocese of Hereford). His brother, Jeremy Lefroy, is the MP for Stafford and a member of the Parliamentary team.

Pic: Nick Peters/National News/Lichfield Diocese
Pic: Nick Peters/National News/Lichfield Diocese

The idea for the game arose last year after Lichfield, skippered by the Methodist superintendent minister of Stafford, the Revd Jeff Reynolds, lifted the Church Times Cricket Cup for the first time in the competition’s 60-year history.

The Parliament team includes Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt (Reigate), Sports Minister Hugh Robertson (Faversham and Mid Kent), and Peter Bone (Wellingborough), as well as a number of researchers and parliamentary staff.

The Lichfield Diocesan Team includes the Revd Andy Ackroyd (Stafford Methodist Circuit). the Revd Paul Darlington (Holy Trinity, Oswestry), the Revd Anthony Osborne (recently retired Team Rector of Hartshill, Penkhull and Trent Vale), the Revd Peter Hart (Vicar of Vicar of Cannock and Huntington and of Hatherton), and Andy Morgan (Pioneer Minister of West Bromwich Network Church), the Revd Ian Poole (Team Vicar of St James, Fordhouses, Bushbury),as well as the Revd Jeff Reynolds (Methodist Superintendent Minister of Stafford).

Lichfield finished their innings on 171 for six. In reply, the MPs were 172 for eight, winning the game with an over and five balls to spare.

The Diocese team will now turn their attention to their crunch Church Times Cricket Cup clash against Birmingham. Both sides have won all of their regional group stage matches and will now meet in a decisive final group stage match on June 13 at Harborne to decide who will represent the West Midlands in the knockout stage of the cup.

Click to see more pictures of the game between the Diocese of Lichfield and MPs.