Welcome to the Enews for April 23

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

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

The Diocese of Leeds has created a small fund to support churches impacted by the ending of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS), and applications are now open. At the end of January 2026, the government announced that the full budget of the LPWGS had been allocated and the scheme would close with immediate effect, instead of at the end of March 2026. Read more here

The Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, will be sharing the significance of the Lord’s Prayer in our lives today at Wakefield Cathedral on Tuesday, April 28, as part of his Lord’s Prayer Tour. During 2025 and 2026, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell has been undertaking a tour across the North of England, sharing the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Prayer as part of a ‘Faith in the North’ initiative. Read more here

Some of our Ripon area churches have been reaching out to children and families new to church with a new Messy Church offering, thanks in part to support from the Diocese of Leeds. The churches of the Walkingham Hill Benefice in Knaresborough, with the help of Kairos Network Church Harrogate, launched its first Messy Church offering in September 2025 at Scotton Village Hall. Read more here

Applications are open for the Leeds Diocesan Internship program for 2026/27. The Leeds Diocesan Internship program is an opportunity to experience God at work in the church today, go deeper into the Bible, theology, prayer, and discipleship, and discover more of the gifts and skills that God has given. Read more here

Vocations Sunday is on Sunday, April 26, and the Diocese of Leeds is supporting the day with resources, an event and a new video. We have produced a new video with curates in the class of 2025/26, sharing about their vocation and their experience in the first year of their ordained ministry. Read more here

Shipley churches and Wellsprings Together have recently held a Fun Day bringing together people from across the community. Some 100 people gathered at Windhill playing fields on Thursday, April 9 for a day which included face painting, games, music, cake, BBQ food, breakdancing and a bouncy castle. 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.

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

Find out more here.

Join us at our three cathedrals for prayer vigils on the days the Crown Nominations Commission is meeting to work on appointing the next Bishop of Leeds.

• Wednesday, May 13 – Bradford Cathedral
• Thursday, May 14 - Ripon Cathedral

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

An Evening of teaching, prayer, and conversation with Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York.

Evening schedule:

• 6pm: Tea and coffee
• 6.30pm: Worship, followed by a talk and time for conversation
• 8.15pm: Close

All are warmly welcome, and no booking is required.

An online training session for PCC members, clergy, churchwardens and anyone involved the care of church buildings. Hosted by the Church Buildings Team, topics covered will include; working with your Quinquennial Inspector, interpreting your inspection report and permissions processes.

To find out more and to book, 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.

People from across the diocese will have the opportunity to spend some time in a rhythm of prayer, sharing and community this summer, as part of a pilgrimage to Taizé. The pilgrimage is being led by the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield, and will take place from Saturday, July 25 to Monday, August 3, and cost £400.

Find out more here.

Parcevall Hall are running a variety of retreats.

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

The Divine Weaver Retreat Day (Friday, June 12, 10am - 4pm)

Led by Revd Jayne Ward. Come and experience weaving as a creative pathway to prayer. Materials and a small frame for weaving will be provided. Refreshments will be served, please bring your own lunch. Cost £30

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.

The Mirfield Theology Discussion Group is meeting at the Community of the Resurrection on Monday 27 April at 2pm. Fr Ben Gordon-Taylor will introduce a discussion of the prayer “O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look upon your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery …” from the Gelasian Sacramentary. Details from: gguiver@mirfield.org.uk.

ReSource has a particular calling to support spiritual renewal in 'little, local, ordinary' churches. These churches form the backbone of the Church but sometimes we feel isolated and dry. This day is for anyone who thirsts for more. Led by Revd Jolyon Trickey and others, this day is an opportunity for teams and individuals to:

• worship and encounter God afresh
• renew of faith in the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit
• discern how God is calling us in this particular season

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

A relaxed atmosphere. Drop in and catch up with some stunning history. Free admission; donations welcome.

All proceeds to the Churches Conservation Trust.

Click here to find out more.

A day exploring meditation for absolute beginners, seasoned practitioners and everyone in between.

Rooted in the Christian tradition and open to those of any faith or none. Tea and coffee provided, please bring

your own lunch.

It’s free, while donations towards the cost of the day will be gratefully received. For more information or to book a place please contact Revd Peter Greenwood, peter.greenwood@leeds.anglican.org.

A special evening concert by the Kirkby Lonsdale Band.

Tickets £10.00. Available from Churchwarden Rosemary Hartley by email rosemaryhartley4@gmail.com or pay at the door.

With Professor Alison Phipps, UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Education, Languages and the Arts at the University of Glasgow. In the lecture Professor Alison Phipps will explore the theological and practical failures exposed by recent genocidal assaults in Gaza, Sudan and Tigray. Drawing on decades of work with refugees worldwide, and especially from her home in Scotland, she will consider the resistant work of offering refuge in apocalyptic conditions and what heartbreak might teach us of our betrayal of refugees. In the face of immense grief, she will offer poetic and prayerful resources for courage, faith and cheerfulness from her tradition within The Iona Community. 

Find out more and book here.

The study day will explore the experiences of the project team (both before and after the rendering) of this King of Prussia award-winning (2025) conservation project, and present an opportunity for architects and surveyors

to reflect on managing changes of appearance to historic churches. DAC members, specialist masons & builders and parish representatives managing damp issues are also welcome.

Tower internal and external tours will be conducted throughout the day by the project’s masons. Appropriate attire and footwear are strongly recommended. Those entering the tower do so at their own risk.

There is no fee for the day. Refreshments and a soup lunch will be provided. Donations will be welcomed.

To book your place please visit our ticketing site here.

Join us for a free, full day’s course focusing on Mental Health. Explore what is meant by mental health, the stigmas attached to it, practical ideas to help improve resilience, and how Mental Health First Aid can support you and other member of the community. Optional individual Prayer Journey space. This course is open to anyone interested, especially those who may care for, or want to learn more about supporting others who may experience mental health issues. N.B. This is a non-accredited course. The day will include challenging and

distressing content, including suicide.

To book your place, or for further information, please email: ruth@bradleystthomas.org.uk.

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.

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.

We are seeking a Hub Leader (Fixed term for 3 years) to help equip and empower lay leaders, particularly in underserved communities, areas of deprivation, and among global majority heritage groups. The Hub Leader will create and lead a local hub of the Lay Leadership Development Programme within a specific area of the Diocese. Working closely with clergy, laity, volunteers, and the Barnabas Programme team, you will identify and recruit participants, deliver training, and ensure each individual receives the mentoring and support they need to grow in their missional leadership. Find out more about this role here

The Diocese of Leeds is seeking to appoint a Senior Programme Manager to lead, shape, and deliver a new generation of transformational programmes at a pivotal moment in our journey. Our vision is to see Confident Christians, Growing Churches, and Transforming Communities. As we move into the next phase of Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence, programme leadership will be central to enabling diocesan-wide change. This role will oversee the development, launch, and implementation of major strategic programmes that strengthen mission, revitalisation, lay leadership, and ministry with children and young people and ‘Transforming the City of Leeds’. 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 7. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!