Welcome to the Enews for April 17

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

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

Halifax Minster’s Festival of Faith has allowed a range of diverse voices to be heard, particularly as part of the Minster’s In Conversation series. The public conversations have been between the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield, and a range of guest, talking about faith in the public square. Read more here

Building on last year’s success, the Diocesan Children, Young People and Families Team is hosting TEND 2025 events to celebrate and support everyone involved in this vital area of churches’ ministry. “Sharing Stories” is the theme of this year’s events that will gather people together. Read more here

One of our Multi Academy Trusts has won the Multi Academy Trust Association Green Trust of the Year Award. The Trinity Multi Academy Trust covers six secondary schools, four primary schools, and a post-16 college, with 1300 staff and 8000 pupils across West Yorkshire. Read more here

Bishop Nick will be at each of our three Cathedrals as his years of service to the diocese come to an end. He will delegate his authority to the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford on Friday, September 12, who will manage that responsibility during the vacancy until the arrival of a new diocesan Bishop of Leeds. Read more here

Bradford Cathedral have achieved their A Rocha Eco Church Gold Award, making them the fifth English Cathedral to achieve this prestigious award in England and Wales. Following an award submission in late 2024 and a recent site visit, Bradford Cathedral have achieved this status, reflecting their commitment to good environmental practice. Read more here

One of our Huddersfield area parishes will be sharing the Easter story with families in an exciting way this Easter. The parish of Christ the King Meltham are running their Easter Story trail on Saturday, April 19. Read more here

Have you ever wished you could grow your skills in supporting someone who is struggling with their mental health? Would a deeper understanding of mental health issues help you to be more effective in your pastoral work? You might be interested in attending a Mental Health First Aid course.

This would be run by an external provider and facilitated by the Lay Training team. To cover the provider’s costs there would be a charge (to be confirmed, but it would be approximately £100) for each attendee. (If they wish, clergy and LLMs can use their CMD allowance towards the cost.) We are hoping to gauge how much interest there would be in this course, to see if it would be viable to run it. If you or someone from your church would be interested in attending, please let us know by emailing layministry@leeds.anglican.org.

The Everybody Welcome course is a day for local churches to share experiences and explore how we offer welcome to newcomers.

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.

Join the Vocations Team and Lay Training Team for an explorative evening at Wakefield Cathedral.

There will be a variety of ministries both lay and ordained, embodied and lived in by the people who have travelled this road of questioning before. Come and hear their story, ask a question, discover more. Maybe God is calling to you right now. This is an opportunity to do something beautiful for God and for yourself.

We gather at 7pm and we will finish no later than 9pm.

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Please register your place.

Led by Revd Henriette Howarth, this weekend offers rest and spiritual nourishment to those who live with or care for loved ones who struggle with physical and mental health challenges. You don’t need to be a ‘recognised’ carer to come on this retreat. There will be space to rest and time to receive from God, learn from Scripture and other spiritual resources about divine compassion, and use music and creativity as tools to relax and experience God’s Spirit. Cost: £195. More information and booking details here.

Did you know that you can be ordained at age 23? Before that comes training and discernment, so you are never too young to explore that sense of calling you might have. The future of the Church depends on the next generation responding in faith to Jesus and, from them, would be leaders responding to their call. Could that be you, or someone you know?

This next EVT event will provide an opportunity for you to hear from some younger clergy and what it might be like to be under 30 and called to ministry. Whatever your age it is sure to be a formative evening as we Explore Vocations Together.

The evening will be led by Revd Simon Walters, Diocesan Intern Leader and The Rt Revd Anna Eltringham, Bishop of Ripon.

We gather at 7pm and we will finish no later than 9pm. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Click here to find out more and to book your place.

The purpose of this 2-year programme is for each participant to deepen their own spiritual journey and to discern whether there is a gift for and a call to spiritual direction ministry. In the first year there will be a focus on Spiritual Growth and Transformation. In the second year the focus will be on Equipping for the Ministry of Spiritual Direction. As a group, we will meet approximately 12 times throughout the year (8 in-person across the diocese and 4 online). Click here to read more about the content of the programme. Please email charlie.scott@leeds.anglican.org to book a place on one of the information evenings being held on Thursday, March 27 or Wednesday, April 30.

Find out more here.

There are still places available at the Messy Church Conference 2025. ‘All together’ is a conference like no other! Join us for a weekend of inspiring keynote speakers, informative workshops, Messy Church sessions and fun together with the global Messy Church family. We will be exploring how we welcome people of all ages, abilities and from all backgrounds to Messy Church. We appreciate that money can be tight in the new year so to ensure you don’t miss out on a place at the Messy Church Conference in June you can pay a deposit now and pay the rest by Wednesday, March 19.

Find out more here.

International Workers' Memorial Day Service on Monday, April 28.

We plough the fields - a Rogationtide service on Sunday, May 25.

If anyone wants more information please e-mail kjfbarnard@gmail.com.

Free event (donation for refreshments)

As well as the necessary business of an AGM we will be focusing on one of CoA’s core objectives – celebrating the gifts and potential of later life - and helping churches and others to develop activities which contribute to facilitating older people’s spiritual growth.

Our keynote speaker will be Revd Dr Chris Swift, recently appointed as Director of the Leeds Church Institute, and previously Director of Chaplaincy and Spirituality at Methodist Homes (MHA). After lunch, we will look at three examples of good practice in church activities that can ‘accompany ageing’:

*Helen McCormack, Pastoral & Development Worker for Older People North Yorkshire URC, on The Gift of Time.

*Dr Joanna Walker, CoA Trustee and previously researcher on older people’s spiritual development on Accompanying the later life transition of retirement.

*Dr Katherine Froggatt, Anna Chaplaincy Coordinator Diocese of Blackburn on Anna Chaplaincy: Embedding Spiritual Care in your Community.

All welcome! CoA members, and anyone interested in later life and older people ministry, are invited to join us.

To sign up for this event:

Email secretary@christiansonageing.org.uk

See www.christiansonageing.org.uk for further details and programme news.

Displays, activities and music from community groups, schools and individuals, refreshments served. Finishing with a short service of Commitment to Peace at 3.30 pm.

Part of a braoder programme of events including a VE Day service, and a schools celebration.

Led by Revd Debby Plummer, this retreat focuses on thanksgiving for God’s creation, inspired by Franciscan spirituality. In the midst of pressing concerns about environmental catastrophe, there will be time to seek peace and hope in nature and faith. Debby, a Third Order Franciscan and retreat leader, will lead sessions of reflection and prayer focussing on creation, destruction, and restoration. On the Sunday, there will be a Eucharist with a creation inspired liturgy. Cost: £225.

For more information see our website and for booking email admin@parcevallhall.org.uk.

Led by Revd Matt Woodcock, extrovert priest and contributor to Pause for Thought on Radio 2, this 24 hour retreat is designed for people who find restoration and renewal in the company of others, and who think a retreat would surely be too quiet. There will be short quiet times, but also lots of time for discussion, bible study and activity. The retreat is an opportunity for spiritual growth and inspiration. Cost: £99

For more information see our website and for booking email admin@parcevallhall.org.uk.

Come and worship with the St Philip's Band at a service of prayer and praise.

Performances by the Mytholmroyd St Michael's Amateurs, with both afternoon and evening performances.

Click here to book tickets.

Paul Kerensa is a Christian comedian and comedy writer, who has written for ‘Miranda’, ‘Not Going Out’, ‘TFI Friday’ etc. and appeared on Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’. His performance will be suitable for anyone over 12, be they atheist or bishop. Paul has toured his solo show to 1000s of events & festivals, from Spring Harvest, Greenbelt and Keswick, to the Edinburgh Fringe and Montreal Comedy Festival.

“A brilliant writer, fantastic communicator, deep thinker & philosopher but most importantly, extremely decent bloke.” – CHRIS EVANS

“Top comic, top writer, top bloke!” – LEE MACK

Tickets are £10 plus booking fee.

Click here to find out more and to book.

Calling all worship and church leaders! You are warmly invited to our upcoming Intercultural Worship Day. This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate and worship together in celebration of our diversity and unity as a Church.

The day will feature training sessions led by a team of worship leaders from Intercultural Churches UK.

Book your free ticket here.

Led by the Revd Canon Philip Hobday, this will be a day for refreshment and guided reflection in the peaceful, meditative surroundings of Mirfield. All welcome. Tea and coffee provided, please bring your own lunch. Suggested donation of £10.

To book your place please email caroline.asquith@leeds.anglican.org.

Tickets: £14 (£10 pensioners and under 16s) on the door or online

The York Waits take their name from the ancient city band of York, the earliest evidence for which is found in 14th century records. Today’s York Waits have revived the band as it was in its heyday in the 16th century, playing a wide repertoire of period European music as well as their own arrangements of popular dance and ballad tunes.They give regular concerts throughout Britain for festivals, music societies, schools and private functions. A very recent engagement was to play in Leicester Cathedral at the Civic Service of Thanksgiving held to mark the tenth Anniversary of the Reinterment of King Richard III.

Click here to find out more and to book.

Leeds Third Order Franciscans are meeting occasionally for a eucharist and discussion at Leeds Minster. We are welcoming anyone interested in coming along to worship with us and perhaps find out a bit more about TSSF and all it offers in the way of following Francis in love, joy, simplicity, and the honouring of God through creation.

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.

Hear from the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, about parish share and how we are supporting parishes across the diocese.

Watch the video here

Compass is a tool that any church can use to help them identify where they are in their journey of development, and to help identify next steps in mission. Hear more about it from the Revd Canon Jude Smith, Director of Mission and Revitalisation in the diocese.

Watch the video here

The Diocese of Leeds is currently inviting expressions of interest for volunteer members for its Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) for its new term of appointment. The DAC is an integral part of enabling the church buildings across the Diocese to thrive as centres of worship and as places for communities to come together. The DAC supports PCCs in caring for around 550 churches across the Diocese, the majority of which are heritage listed, and helps to ensure these much-valued assets are sustainable for continued use for the future. Find out more about this role here

This role will give you the amazing opportunity to explore more of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and grow as a leader of mission in a local church. For two years we will give you skills that will equip you for life, work, mission and leadership, and the opportunity to use and develop them in a local church setting. It's a two-year long adventure giving you the experience of leadership and service, learning alongside a community of other Mission Apprentices. 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 May 1. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!