Welcome to the Enews for June 18

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

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

Our Barnabas work, racial justice, nationalism and more were on the agenda at a busy meeting of Diocesan Synod on Saturday, June 13 at Holy Trinity Boar Lane. Synod began with worship led by members of the East Leeds Deanery, before the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Acting Bishop of Leeds, gave a thank you to all who have served on General Synod for our diocese in the most recent session, which ends in July. Read more here

A new diocesan gathering has created space for listening, reflection, and shared learning among people from UK Minority Ethnic (UKME) and Global Majority Heritage communities. Some 18 participants came together at Huddersfield Parish Church to share their experiences of church life, faith, and calling. Read more here

Volunteers and Children, Families and Youth workers gathered at All Saints Ilkley in the Bradford area for one of our TEND events on Saturday, June 6, to be thanked for and equipped in their vital ministry. TEND events are run by our Children, Young People and Families Team, and are about: thanking people for their ministry to children, young people and their families; encouraging and equipping them and those they serve to grow in faith; networking with others and sharing experiences; and doing, making time and space to set people up for what they will do next. Read more here

Over the Pentecost long weekend, 14 lay ministers from the Diocese of Hanover in Germany visited our diocese to meet with Licensed Lay Ministers and to share experiences of lay ministry. The guests from one of our overseas link dioceses stayed with seven host couples, most of whom were LLMs, and visited a range of places including Mixenden, Keighley, Idle, and Little Horton. Read more here

Churches across the diocese have just two weeks left to complete the Energy Footprint Tool (EFT) and have the chance to access national net zero funding. The Church of England’s EFT uses gas, electricity and other fuel bills covering January–December 2025, as well as basic details about church buildings, to build a clearer picture of carbon use and helps all act more strategically. Read more here

New clergy and lay members are being elected to General Synod this year, and people across the diocese will be invited to stand as a candidate. General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England, shaping and approving laws that affect the whole of the Church of England. Read more here

Historic building professionals from across England gathered at St Oswald's Askrigg in the Ripon area for a study day examining the conservation and repair of the church's nationally recognised tower project. The event brought together architects, surveyors, conservation specialists, DAC and church representatives, craftspeople and funders to explore the research, decision-making and practical work behind the lime rendering of the church tower. Read more here

A recent interfaith panel at St George’s Leeds brought together people from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths to speak about their own experiences of faith and what their faith means to them. Some 30 people gathered at the church to hear from the Revd Eve Ridgeway, Clergy Lead at St George’s; Anna Dyson, Student Rabbi in Leeds; and Adam Aslam, a Muslim Youth and Community Worker in the Harehills area. Read more here

In 2025, the Diocese of Leeds introduced a new approach to discerning Licensed Lay Ministry (formally Reader ministry), moving from an application process to a registration-based pathway. This change reflects a commitment to deeper, more prayerful discernment, in line with the national Shared Discernment Process for Licensed Ministries.

This renewed approach is shaped by national guidance from the Central Readers’ Council, which encourages dioceses to focus on formation, self-awareness, and vocation as part of a holistic discernment journey. You can explore lay ministry here.

Over the past year, we have been trialling this new process, and it has already proven fruitful.

Last month, the Formation Team held a selection panel at Church House in Leeds for those hoping to join the Licensed Lay Ministry Training Programme. Candidates took part in two reflective conversations: one exploring their ministry experience and sense of calling, and the other focusing on personal experience, self-awareness, and formation. The panel is designed to offer a supportive and reflective space, enabling candidates to engage deeply with their story and their sense of vocation.

This panel forms part of a renewed discernment pathway, now more closely aligned with that used for ordained ministry. Since last September, the process has placed a stronger emphasis on discernment, ensuring that those exploring Licensed Lay Ministry are supported in testing and understanding their calling more fully.

If you, or someone in your parish sense that God may be calling you to Lay Ministry, we warmly encourage you to get in touch with the Vocations Team at vocations@leeds.anglican.org.

You can begin exploring this calling at any point in the year.

Please join us for a webinar explaining the Eco Church scheme. For 10 years, Eco Church has been supporting churches around the world in their work to care for God’s earth, and there are over 220 churches registered with Eco Church in the Diocese of Leeds alone!

The webinar will be hosted by Polly Eaton, Eco Diocese Officer for the A Rocha UK churches team, and we are also glad to welcome Diana, Parish Environment Officer for St Mary’s Church Embsay with Eastby, who will share the church’s journey to achieving the Eco Gold award. There will be an opportunity at the end to ask questions, and the webinar will be recorded.

More details and booking information can be found here. 

All of us are on a journey with God. We are letting God help us grow and develop. 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 and explore how God might be calling you, and what you might be called to. 

More details and booking information can be found here. 

For more information or to book a place on one of the upcoming iterations, please contact Anne Payne on anne.payne@leeds.anglican.org.

Bubble Church are partnering with the Diocese of Leeds to run a training day in September, helping churches get involved in worship designed for young children and their families.

We are running a training day at Wakefield Cathedral on Thursday, September 24 to help churches learn about the service, how best to run it and the resources available to support its running.

To find out more and to book, please click 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 course is interactive with groupwork activities plus times for discussion and reflection. We will explore four areas over two evening sessions and you will need to attend both. 

Wednesday, June 17:

• 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

Wednesday, July 15

• 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 find out more and to book, please click here.

People will have the chance to worship in the style of Taizé and learn more about what our Taizé pilgrimage entails at events across the diocese. The next one is at Bradford Cathedral.

Find out more here.

For strengthening connections between church, home and school. This hub will look at the different ways that churches use music to engage with their local schools. We will hear how parishes have built upon these engagements to enable children and young people to explore faith as well as consider how to get started. The intention is to build a learning community for those passionate about music to support each other on their school engagement journeys. Click here to sign up.

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? If so, you are welcome to join this two-day course, 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.

We are delighted to be able to offer an Emergency First Aid Course for church workers and volunteers, in conjunction with Wakefield Council's Commercial Service Team. Cost: £63.75 + Eventbrite costs. To book your place, please click here.

All Church Officers are welcome to attend upcoming safeguarding forums. Come meet the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, get updates on Church of England safeguarding practice and much more!

To sign up, please click here.

Our Vocations Team are running a series of events in 2026, on the theme of 'how do I make my faith count?' Please see the flyer for more details, and please click here to book.

Parcevall Hall are running a variety of retreats.

To find out more about them and to book please click here.

Walk, Rest and Pray Retreat (Monday, July 6 - Thursday, July 9)

Led by Revd Mark and Gill Ireland. In this retreat we shall go walking, delighting in God’s creation and reflecting from the Bible on how to build refreshing sabbath rest into our often busy lives. There will be six walks during the retreat, with moderately challenging and easier options. Cost: £297

Sing to the Lord a joyful song Friday, July 10 - Sunday, July 12)

Led by Revd Mike Leigh. This retreat will be a joyful weekend of song. Mike will teach songs using music from across the world which are easy to learn and full of harmony. All singing abilities and experience levels are welcome. Cost: £235

Retreat for Carers and those who care (Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19)

Led by the 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/or mental health challenges. There will be time to rest and receive from God, learn from Scripture, enjoy nature, be creative, and experience God’s peace. Please consider recommending this retreat to people in your parishes who may benefit from it. Click here to find out more.

This course follows Introduction to Theology. It introduces those involved in pastoral work to the key principles of delivering pastoral care under the supervision of their incumbent in their parish(es) in the Diocese of Leeds. Lay Pastoral Ministers are authorised at parish level. This means that applicants for the course must have the approval of their incumbent and PCC.

More details and booking information can be found here. 

For more information, please contact us on layministry@leeds.anglican.org.

This course follows Introduction to Theology. will develop skills and leadership ability in those wishing to be involved in leading worship in their parishes. The Lay Worship Leaders course enables those who have successfully completed it to lead worship in their parish under the supervision of their incumbent. Lay Pastoral Ministers are authorised at parish level. This means that applicants for the course must have the approval of their incumbent and PCC.

More details and booking information can be found here. 

For more information, please contact us on layministry@leeds.anglican.org.

This course follows Introduction to Theology. It is a course for lay people who are unable to commit to becoming Licensed Lay Ministers but still feel called to a preaching ministry on an occasional basis. Occasional Preachers are authorised at parish level. This means that applicants for the course must have the approval of their incumbent and PCC.

More details and booking information can be found here. 

For more information, please contact us on layministry@leeds.anglican.org.

Parishes from across the diocese are invited to book a visit to Ripon Cathedral for a Treasures Untold Pilgrimage within the cathedral building for up to 20 people. The pilgrimages will begin with refreshments at 9.30am. There will then be a reflective and prayerful tour around the Cathedral exploring how the historical features of the fabric of the building hep us to express our faith. The pilgrimage will conclude with a Celebration of Holy Communion which will begin at 12pm. The cost of the pilgrimage is £10 per head. All participants will receive a colour brochure of Treasures Untold.

To book please contact governanceofficer@riponcathedral.org.uk.

It may be possible to arrange the Treasures Untold Pilgrimage on other dates to suit. To explore the possibilities please contact Canon Matthew on canonmatthew@riponcathedral.org.uk.

The next edition of the CMD Brochure is now available online. This brochure is published twice a year on our CMD page for the attention of all clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers in the Diocese of Leeds. This brochure includes upcoming events and learning opportunities that are planned in the following five or six months from diocesan teams as well as external providers, such as Harrogate School of Theology. It also includes a number of chosen retreats taking place at Parcevall Hall, Scargill and The Briery Retreat Centre that may be of interest to clergy and LLMs. Finally, it includes resources such as finance information and clergy welfare links. You can find the latest edition of the brochure here.

Four by Four - a look at the four gospels.

Free event with live music, cake stall, tombola, raffle, name the bear and refreshments.

• Laurel Bank, Monday, June 15
• Wykebeck, Tuesday, June 16
• Community Wellbeing Hub, Wednesday, June 17
• Calverlands, Thursday, June 18
• Holt Park, Friday, June 19

Join us for a joyful afternoon of singing: warm-ups, rounds and summer songs of all kinds. Everyone is welcome. No musical experience needed. David will teach everything by ear, including some wonderful harmonies. Contact pete.armstrong52@gmail.com for more info or to confirm your place, or just turn up on the day. Suggested donation of £10 or what you can afford. 

Join us to celebrate a reprise performance of Bradford Chorale’s first concert in April 1976, followed by drinks and refreshments.

Tickets £15 (including refreshments)

To find out more and to book, please click here.

Great choral music from Purcell to Dove.

This concert by St Peter’s Singers celebrates great English music written across the centuries in the praise of God. Come and join us for a joy-filled and uplifting evening.

To find out more and to book, please click here.

We believe God is calling the Church to reach new people across the north of England, in new and renewed ways, with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Whether you’re exploring starting something or are an experienced church planter, join local leaders and teams at Multiply: North in Leeds on Tuesday, June 23 for a day of wisdom on church planting and multiplication shared across traditions, contexts and models.

Early bird tickets are available for £22.50 until Friday 27 March (full price £30).

Hosted by a new collaboration of Baptist, Anglican and ecumenical partners, Multiply: North shares a vision to see healthy churches planted and multiplied across the North.

Find out more and book here.

Summer has well and truly arrived at Halifax Minster as it prepares for a festival of music, art, poetry and tours set to bring sunshine to the town.

The popular Minster Summer Festival will get underway again this year from Thursday, June 25, running until Sunday, July 5 with something for everyone – including many free events.

Find out more here.

The Penhill Benefice and Wensleydale Flower Club are jointly holding a four-day long flower festival in the beautiful church of St Andrew’s which is situated just above the famous Aysgarth Falls. 

Entrance to the flower festival is free so please do join us and encourage your family, friends and visitors to come along too.

The church is collecting donations for Caring For Life, a Christian charity sharing the love of Jesus with homeless and vulnerable men and women in and around Leeds.

The Horbury Festival of Church Music 2026 will take place over the weekend of the 27th and 28th June, 2026. Originally founded at St Peter and St Leonard, Horbury, in 1867 and refounded in 2024, this year marks the third festival in its modern iteration. The core aim of the weekend is to study sacred music and share best practice together, celebrating the profound role of music embedded in the liturgy. The festival programme promises a rich weekend of education, worship, and newly commissioned music.

Admission free. Booking not required. 

For enquiries, contact music@horburychurch.com.

A Symposium on Healing marking the 800th Anniversary of the Canonisation of St William of York. The symposium forms part of the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the canonisation of William of York, whose shrine at York Minster became one of the great medieval centres of pilgrimage and prayer for healing.

Find out more and book here.

The Sisters of the Community of St Mary the Virgin in Wantage (OX12 9AU) are offering those wondering about a possible vocation to the Religious Life a chance to spend a weekend with them in their Convent joining them in chapel, eating with them, and more. There will also be opportunity to chat with the Sisters and ask questions. Further info can be found here.

Join us at St Philip's for an evening of worship, prayer, and encouragement as we gather to seek God for renewal in our churches, communities, and nation. 

With sung worship, space for prayer ministry, and a particular focus on children and young people, we will be praying into the challenges facing this generation — including faith, identity, mental health, loneliness, education, family life, and discipleship. We will also speak and pray about the work of Our Father's House.

This service is a gift to the local church. Worship fuels evangelism and mission because, as we encounter the love and presence of God, our hearts are stirred to share the hope of Jesus Christ with the world around us.

Whether you come weary, hopeful, curious, or expectant, all are welcome as we unite in prayer and praise under the theme 'Worship for Revival'.

Whether you are a choir director, choir member, instrumentalist or new to music ministry, this conference includes something suitable for all. Through discussion, idea sharing, and singing together with one heart and voice, participants may develop their musical skills and contribute to a sense of community within their churches, encouraging each other in the valuable work of everyday liturgy in our local parishes. Importantly, the conference offers the opportunity to meet and share experiences with others involved in church music from across the country.

Canon Peter Gunstone (priest musician previously involved in pioneer ministry in Bradford and now Precentor at Carlisle Cathedral) will speak on ‘One heart, one voice - can people of diverse backgrounds and traditions become one people of God in worship?’ 

Theologian Dr Sue Price, with her specialist interests in Children's Spirituality, the use of Godly Play and outreach work into parishes, will explore how liturgy in whatever form can really feed people’s spirituality.

Practical workshops will explore various musical styles including Iona Community Worship and Life, Gospel Singing, Animating Song, and Supporting the Worshipping Community in music. 

More information from: jburridge@me.com.

This year's Church Action on Poverty Sunday will take place on Sunday 18th October, with a theme of "Food, faith and fellowship".

A record number of churches took part last year, and interested churches are encouraged to register now.

Resource packs will be sent out over the summer, containing bring & share lunch ideas, worship materials, prayer cards, Scriptural reflections, activity sheets, and inspirational stories of churches already doing great work through food. 

To sign up, visit here.

The Oasis of Silence programme at St Hilda´s Priory offers space and stillness to seek God with loving awareness in the present moment. It offers a variety of opportunities to make retreats of different lengths in a peaceful and welcoming environment, away from our busy everyday lives.

It is for everyone seeking stillness and silence and who is interested in getting to know or to deepening the practice of contemplative prayer.

Find out more here.

St Hild is offering three short courses, in person or online, starting in September 2026 or January 2027. Click the links in the course title for more information and/or to register:

• Bible in Context - nine sessions in Sheffield at STC on Mondays, 9.30 am -12.30pm, starting in September.
• Mission & Ministry in an Urban Context - six sessions in Sheffield at STC on Mondays, 1.45pm - 4.30pm, starting in October.
• Rural Mission and Ministry - 10 sessions online or a hybrid option in Lincoln, 6.30pm - 9 pm on Thursdays starting January 2027.  

For more information, please click here.

An exciting opportunity to develop and support ministry amongst Farsi-speakers at St John’s Bowling and across the Diocese of Leeds. Work with us over two years to devleop our ministry amongst people from the Middle East and to support our work with Farsi-speakers across the diocese. Find out more about this role here

Are you someone who cares deeply about helping schools flourish? Would you like to play a key role at the heart of our diocesan work with over 230 schools and academies? Do you enjoy working with school leaders and governors to bring clarity, integrity and support to complex situations? We are looking to appoint an Education Governance and Compliance Officer to join our committed and highly supportive Education Team. This is a new and vital role that underpins much of the statutory, strategic and relational work of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE). Find out more about this role here

St George’s Crypt is seeking new members on our Trustee Board. Our Board of Trustees exists to provide a broad range of skills which enable our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to further the impact of the charity across the city of Leeds and beyond. Expressions of interest can be made to Martin Barry, PA to the Trustees via Martin.Barry@stgeorgescrypt.org.uk. The deadline for applications is Monday, August 31. 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 July 2. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!