Welcome to the Enews for October 2

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

Contact enews@leeds.anglican.org with your news. 

The Rt Revd Arun Arora, the Church of England’s co-lead Bishop for Racial Justice and Bishop of Kirkstall, has called upon Christians “to reclaim both the flag and the faith that is being desecrated by those who would use both to divide us as a nation.” Bishop Arun was speaking at a licensing service on the evening of Wednesday, September 17 in East Leeds close to the Brittania Hotel where there have been weekly protests against those seeking asylum temporarily housed in the Seacroft area of the city. Read more here

Black History Month has begun, celebrating the power and pride of black communities, and our churches will be responding in a variety of ways. Throughout the month people will be sharing what Black History Month means to them. Read more here

Nine new diocesan interns have begun their new year of learning and service. Interns and their church leaders gathered for training and a chance to connect on Tuesday, September 17, sharing conversation, learning and a service of Holy Communion. Read more here

Black History Month begins on Wednesday, October 1, and churches across the diocese will be marking the month. On Saturday, November 1, the diocese will be holding a service to celebrate the month at St Margaret’s Thornbury. Read more here

This Fairtrade Fortnight, All Saints’ Ilkley is celebrating the renewal of their status as a Fairtrade Church. In response to a Leeds Diocesan Synod Motion encouraging our churches and schools to refresh their commitment to Fairtrade, passed last October, All Saints have worked to make sure Fairtrade is in all they are doing. Read more here

People from across Huddersfield gathered at Huddersfield Parish Church to celebrate the town on Saturday, September 20. Now in its third year, the ‘Celebrate Huddersfield’ event gathered people from different communities, of different ages, and celebrated the educational, civic, and cultural capital of the area. Read more here

Over 50 people who work with children and young people gathered at St George’s Lupset recently to be thanked, equipped, network and work out what they can do next. TEND events are run by the diocesan Children, Young People and Families Team, and aim to thank those involved in ministry with children and young people, equip them in that work, provide opportunities for networking and set people up for what they will do in their ministry next. Read more here

Our bishops have sent warm greetings and prayers to our Jewish friends, as Rosh Hashanah begins. Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year and is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, running from Monday, September 22 to Wednesday, September 24. Read more here

How we can tackle poverty in the Huddersfield area was the subject of an event run by Huddersfield Mission. "Poverty Matters" brought together voluntary groups and partners, as well as Harpreet Uppal MP; the Revd Kerry Tankard, Chair of District for the Methodist Church; and the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield, to hear lived experiences of rural and urban poverty in Huddersfield and seek ways for structural change. Read more here

Generosity Week 2025 runs from Sunday, September 28 to Sunday, October 5, and churches across the diocese are being encouraged to get involved. Generosity Week is an annual event where churches are invited to explore God’s generosity through eight days of service and worship materials. Read more here

Whether you have been working with children and young people for a long time or you are just starting out, this course is designed to help you develop and refresh skills and knowledge so you can serve children and young people well.

The Ministry with Children and Young People is interactive with groupwork activities plus times for discussion and reflection. We will explore four areas:

• Children Matter – the value of children to Jesus and to the church
• Practical Matters – the skills and practicalities needed to work safely with children and young people
• Faith Matters – how faith might develop for children and young people and how we might help to nurture faith.
• You Matter – the importance of knowing our roles and responsibilities and looking after our own faith and wellbeing

To sign up for the course and specific dates, please email childrenyouth@leeds.anglican.org.

Find out more here.

Book a one to one Digital Clinic session with a member of the Stewardship Team to discuss Digital Giving. These sessions are perfect for finding specific solutions to any issues you are having with contactless devices or online giving pages. These are also a great space for finding out more if you are new to digital giving. The Stewardship team can discuss how to promote this way of giving in your church, including creating new eye-catching giving campaigns. Book a session below:

• Monday, November 3 - Leeds, Church House Leeds - book here
• Monday, November 10 - Wakefield St Catherine - book here
• Monday, November 17 - Huddersfield Parish Church - book here
• Monday, November 24 - Bingley Trinity Centre - book here

Theology is a word that comes from Ancient Greek. It means talking about God. It’s as simple as that. You already do theology, even if you don’t call it that. For example, when you say, ‘God loves you’ to someone, you are making a statement about God. You are ‘doing theology’. 

This course is for anyone who wants to do theology - to talk and think about God - and to deepen their discipleship. It’s also an opportunity to think about how God is forming us right now. All of us are on a journey with God. We are letting God mould us into the person God always meant us to be. 

We may feel called to a particular ministry. We may just want to know more. Either way, this course is for you! 

Please note: anyone wishing to follow a commissioned pathway (Lay Worship Leader, Lay Pastoral Minister or Occasional Preacher) should sign up for Introduction to Theology, which is part one of your training. Part two courses, focussing on specific ministry roles, will take place in the spring term. 

More details and booking information can be found here.  

If you require any specific help or information, please do contact us at layministry@leeds.anglican.org. 

Do you have an interest in supporting those struggling with mental ill health? Want to develop your knowledge or become accredited as a Mental Health First Aider? 

We will be running several courses, led by an expert trainer from the Saltaire Training Company, that can support you to develop your skills and confidence in this area. 

More details and booking information can be found here.

If you require any specific help or information, please do contact us at layministry@leeds.anglican.org. 

Seeking a more effective combination of faith and social action? Do join us to learn more from our Barnabas Team and Wellsprings Together!

Click here to find out more.

As part of our mission action plan, ‘Signs of the Kingdom,’

The United Parish of Upper Nidderdale is devoted to growing deeply as disciples.

We start at 6.30pm with drinks and nibbles followed by a Speaker around 7pm. The evening should conclude after prayers, hopefully no later than 8.30pm

Dr Peter Vardy is a British theologian. The author or co-author of 18 books about religion and ethics. He was vice-principal of Heythrop College, a Jesuit college in London, from 1999 to 2011. He is known for the religious-studies conferences he runs in the UK for schools.

• Wednesday, September 3 - Crime and Punishment?: Why do societies punish and what is the purpose of punishment?
• Wednesday, October 1 - Global Economic Justice
• Wednesday, November 5 - Environmental Justice
• Wednesday, December 3 - Personal Justice and Christianity

This is a completely free event, however there will be an opportunity at the end of each evening to make a voluntary contribution towards a small-scale project in Uganda that supports young people with basic vocational training in computer skills, sewing, carpentry, and cooking etc. Even modest donations can make a significant difference.

It would be really helpful if you could let us know if you intend to join us so that we have an idea of how many people to expect. Contact: Darryl 07792419982 or email horlix@aol.com.

A unique opportunity to see a cycle of 120 drawings by artist Monika Muller projected to an accompanying musical score especially composed for these drawings by Thomas K. J. Meyer and played live by SepiaBass4, a Bass Flute Quartet.

These drawings are based on a commissioned tour of North Yorkshire and the Lake District made by JMW Turner in 1816. Turner never completed this commission. Over several years, Monika Muller has brought this set of drawings to completion. The route for both artists passed through Burton in Lonsdale. Monika is a Punch Bowl Inn, community pub investor, and is based in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Why are young people in Britain today turning to faith in our age of uncertainty?

Somerset Maugham Award-winning writer Lamorna Ash embarked on a journey across Britain to meet the new generation wrestling with Christianity in our age of disconnection and apathy. Hear about how her own deeply personal journey with religion inspired her investigation and what the people she met at Evangelical youth festivals and Quaker meetings, a silent Jesuit retreat to a monastic community in the Inner Hebrides, taught her about our universal need for nourishment of the soul. 

Presented in partnership with All Saints Ilkley.

Find out more here.

Join us for a special Choral Evensong celebrating St Wilfrid of Ripon, one of the cathedral’s patron saints and its founder.

This service brings together the cathedral’s full choral foundation with former choristers and lay clerks, as alumni of the choir return to sing alongside today’s choristers. Together they will fill the cathedral with glorious music in honour of St Wilfrid, whose vision and faith shaped this place of worship more than 1,300 years ago.

Join us for a day of worship and theological reflection as we take stock of our current geopolitical situation – its deep challenges and injustices – and consider how we can ‘name the beast/s’, lament, and organise for change.

We will be led in worship by Andrew Nunn, and in theological thinking and reflection by Susie Snyder, Al Barrett, Charlotte Naylor Davis, and Jide Macaulay. We shall hear stories of ‘hope in action’ from a diverse group of leaders working for change locally through West Yorkshire Citizens.

Click here to find out more.

The theme of this year's lecture is 'Prophet or Provider' - exploring how the church can be a prophetic voice for change while meeting the needs of those at the margins. 

As churches are increasingly being called upon to meet the urgent needs in our communities, how do we balance this important work with the Christian call to be a prophetic voice for change?

This timely lecture will bring together academics, church communities, and organisations at the front lines of this work.

Find out more here.

The perfect opportunity to spend a weekend learning and practicing new ways to deepen your relationship, presented by a Christian team. £50 booking fee which includes accomodation and meals.

Find out more here.

Concordiamici, directed by Judith Blezzard and accompanied by John Chapman and Thomas Dixon at the organ, will sing Choral Evensong (Book of Common Prayer) on:

• Saturday, October 25, 4pm, Saint Michael The Archangel Kirkby Malham
• Sunday, October 26, 4pm, Halifax Minster 

A new ecumenical group for discussing theology will have a first meeting where anyone is welcome. We start unexpectedly at the shared tomb of Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I, on which is written that they are Sisters in Hope. This is the title of a recent short report by the Anglican-Roman Catholic New Malines Group. It will help us think about the theology of the Church, in times when it is criticised by many. If interested, email Brother George Guiver on gguiver@mirfield.org.uk. Future topics will depend on what participants suggest.

Lecture given by the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York.

Find out more here.

The pilgrimage around the Cathedral is called “Treasures Untold.” It is ideal for groups of up to 20 or so people. Teas and coffees will be served on arrival at 9.30am. Then the group will be led around the Cathedral to explore significant dimensions of its fabric and through them contemplate the activity of God in the world and in our lives. It is a prayerful progression around the building, seeking a real sense of God’s presence with us and his love for us. The pilgrimage will conclude in time for people to participate in the service of Holy Communion if they wish.

If anyone wishes to discuss the pilgrimage further before booking, please contact Canon Matthew Pollard on canonmatthew@riponcathedral.org.uk. Parishes are invited to book by contacting the Cathedral Administrator on cathedraladmin@riponcathedral.org.uk.

Christ is the head of the Church, the Church is the body of Christ and Christ lives in all. We are called to love one another and yet discrimination still persists. What does it mean to grow together “in Christ”, as individuals, parish churches, local communities and National institutions? How does our relationship with God combine with our everyday lived experiences to equip us to tackle issues of Racial Injustice?

This conference will offer the opportunity to worship and to listen to one another in dialogue with keynote speakers, group discussions, and space and time for networking.

Come and be inspired, comforted and transformed as we prayerfully continue the work of racial justice.

The conference is open to all who are interested in issues of racial justice within the Anglican Church and we look forward to seeing members of the GMH and UKME Anglican community and their allies there.

Find out more here.

Anna Chaplaincy is an ecumenical, community-based chaplaincy, offering spiritual care among older people. Through its compassionate and practical approach, it has had an impact on thousands of lives and seeks to offer a gold standard in resourcing and enabling this sensitive ministry of presence.

Starting out as a pioneering, grassroots initiative in Hampshire in 2010, Anna Chaplaincy has grown rapidly to become a national network through BRF Ministries. Over 450 Anna Chaplains of all denominations have been appointed by local churches across the UK to serve their communities, supporting and honouring those in later life in a variety of contexts, whatever their faith or values.

‘Anna Chaplaincy: ageing well and how the church can help’ is a free day event led by the national team, local Anna Chaplains and with the support of the Diocese of York. Please save the date and watch this space for further details, flyers and how to book a place.

For general information go here or email: annachaplaincy@brf.org.uk.

The Diocese of Leeds is seeking a passionate and creative Lay Training Officer to join our dedicated team, empowering lay ministry and lifelong discipleship across our diverse and vibrant communities. As part of the Diocesan Lay Training Team, you will play a key role in developing and delivering high-quality training pathways for lay ministers and disciples. You will manage and support volunteer tutors, contribute to innovative learning initiatives—including hybrid and online training—and work collaboratively within the wider Formation Team to encourage Christian confidence in our churches. Find out more about this role here

Are you passionate about fostering a positive, supportive work environment while driving best practices in HR? Do you have the skills to guide and empower managers, clergy, and employees in people management? If so, we have the perfect role for you! The Diocese of Leeds is seeking a dedicated People Advisor to join our team. In this role, you will play a key part in supporting the HR needs of the Diocese, coaching managers, and developing a range of impactful HR-related projects. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise, helping us champion professionalism, inclusion, and employee wellbeing. Find out more about this role here

The Parish of St Giles’ with St Mary’s have a very successful and well-established Food Share based on Chequerfield in Pontefract. Due to the retirement of the current project lead, we are now looking for someone to take this role. If you are someone who has a heart to make a difference in the community, and loves to work with like minded volunteers who want to help those in need, we want to hear from you. The role currently has funding for six months, but we are actively looking to secure funding to continue this vital work. Find out more about this role here

Please contact the Communications Team with your news for future editions. The Enews is published twice a month. The next edition will be sent out on October 16. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!