Welcome to the Enews for September 18

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

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

Twenty Mission Apprentices have started their year of service across the Bradford and Leeds areas. This year, we have 15 new Mission Apprentices starting, as well as five continuing into their second year. Read more here

Parishes in one of our Ripon area deaneries have been making use of our Compass tool to help plan their mission for the future. Churches in the Bowland and Ewecross deanery were introduced to Compass at a Deanery Synod meeting this past May, with two parishes running sessions over the summer. Read more here

Churches across the diocese are being encouraged to engage with this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, ‘Do It Fair’. Fairtrade Fortnight runs from Monday, September 22 to Sunday, October 5, and is a chance for churches, schools and individuals to celebrate and stand with the people around the world behind important everyday products. Read more here

Thanks to a Diocesan Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins Fund grant, St Wilfrid’s Harrogate have been able to make changes to their lighting on their path to net zero, and there are still grants available. The church is a large, Grade I listed major parish church in central Harrogate with a busy parish hall, parish room, offices and more, and is open to the public every day with daily services. Read more here

One of our Huddersfield area churches has used the small projects funding stream of the Parish Grants Scheme to make a small change to the accessibility of their parish centre, which has made a big difference to those who use it. Kirkheaton Parish Church applied for the fund in late 2024, looking to extend their handrails to improve access to their Parish Centre. 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, September 22 - Richmond St Mary - book here
• 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

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.

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. 

The Saving Creation Gold course is for anyone who has already completed Saving Creation Silver and wishes to: 

• Gain an intersectional understanding of the ecological crisis. 
• Gain an in-depth understanding of the nature of mission and learn about eco-evangelism, pastoral care, and prophetic activism, and incorporating creation and social justice in worship. 
• Consider how to equip and support others in discipleship and advocacy. 
• Consider how to lead a project with an environmental focus at parish, deanery or diocesan level. 
• Begin to create their own resources. 
• Receive training in the skills required to be an effective, commissioned Eco Mission Enabler and practice these. 

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. 

This session offers an opportunity to reflect and pray with the help of Scripture and other resources and to practice christian meditation. Please email charlie.scott@leeds.anglican.org to book a place.

Find out more here.

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. 

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.

This will be a relaxed opportunity to get to know new Bishop of Wakefield, Malcolm Chamberlain; he will be being interviewed by Canon Philip Hobday and then answering questions from the audience.

Bishop Malcolm arrived in the diocese in June having spent eleven years as Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham. Ordained in 1996 he previously served as a parish priest and university chaplain in Walsall and Liverpool.

To book your place, please contact Caroline Asquith: caroline.asquith@leeds.anglican.org

St Paul's Birkenshaw will be be hosting a contemporary worship evening on Sunday, September 21, starting at 6pm. This is an initiative organised by several local Anglican churches, the event is held at different churches in the local area every 3 months.

With music led by our live band you can expect joyous upbeat praise, songs of deep worship, and the opportunity to receive prayer. We'll also be welcoming Debby Plummer, Huddersfield Area Environmental Champion, who will be giving a talk.

Refreshments will be served, and all are welcome! We would love you to join us as we seek the presence of God together.

Worship for revival at St Philip's.

A short series of conversations on eco-related topics, involving local experts and auidence Q and A.

• On Tuesday, September 23, "Greening the Urban Landscape for Nature and Wildlife", will focus on how even in the middle of a city our planting can encourage not only bees, butterflies and moths but birds and other wildlife, featuring Barbara Butler from Christians Aware and Debby Plummer, Yorkshire Wildlife Volunteer and diocesan Eco Mission enabler.
• On Tuesday, September 30, "Climate Justice", focussing on ‘an approach to address climate change that prioritizes fairness and equity, recognizing that its impacts are not felt equally and that those most vulnerable are often the least responsible for causing it’, featuring the musician Ali Bullivant, and representatives from Wakefield City of Sanctuary.

You are invitated to the launch of the Christian Congregations Carbon Literacy course, hosted by the Church of England' Jo Chamberlain and led by Caroline Harman, the course creator who is also a Carbon Literacy trainer and consultant.

This new resource has been designed specifically for Christian communities to support congregations in understanding climate change and taking meaningful action. The course can be accessed by Christian faith groups who wish to deliver Carbon Literacy training to their members, helping to embed climate awareness and responsibility at the heart of community life.

Book here.

This year we are privileged to host Rev Dr Susan Durber, World Council of Churches President.

Dr Durber has previously been Principal of Westminster College Cambridge and theological advisor to Christian Aid. Dr Durber will be speaking about the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council at Niceae and its significance for today. This will link us with the world wide celebrations organised by the WCC.

The World Council of Churches has been holding conferences and Ecumenical events all over the world this year to celebrate Nicaea as part of their work towards church unity.

Optional Choral Evensong 5.30pm - 6.15pm

Tea and Coffee available from 6.15pm

Lecture and Q&A 7pm - 8.30pm

A free event.

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 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 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.

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

St Chad’s is a growing church at the very heart of the vibrant community of Far Headingley in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds. We seek to grow disciples, celebrate faith and build community in this beautiful place. Whilst this role is specific to St Chad’s, our church is part of The Headingley and All Hallows Team, which includes St Michael’s, Headingley, and All Hallows, Leeds. The post holder will be part of the ministry team and will have the exciting opportunity to invest in and develop our ministry to young people and their families. 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 2. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!