Welcome to the Enews for March 26

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 been awarded over £11 million from the national church to significantly invest in children and young peoples’ work, developing more leaders in our churches and supporting the next wave of grafts and plants in the city of Leeds. The funding, £7 million initially and a further £4 million in principle, has been awarded through the Church of England’s Diocesan Investment Programme (DIP) and will enable a new phase of the diocese’s long-term strategy, Barnabas, which supports churches to live out our vision of confident Christians, growing churches and transforming communities. Read more here

Safeguarding, the importance of Parish Share, our Barnabas work and the rise of Christian nationalism were all on the agenda of the most recent Diocesan Synod. Diocesan Synod met online on Saturday, March 14, and opened with worship from the Revd Tim Thomas and other members of the Inner Bradford Deanery, using material from the Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer. Read more here

St Paul’s Drighlington in the Leeds area have been using crafts to connect with children and families in their local area, supported by our Children, Young People and Families Team. The church have been running daytime craft sessions during recent school holidays, including Christmas Crafts and a Shrove Tuesday session that included pancake decorating and Mardi Gras mask decorating. Read more here

28 families in the Armley area of Leeds have access to new, genuinely affordable housing that is energy efficient and in a spacious setting, thanks in part to the property development work of the Diocese of Leeds. 54North Homes, a housing association that focuses on high quality affordable housing, purchased a surplus vicarage and community hall at St Bartholomew’s Armley, and obtained planning permission to demolish the existing buildings and deliver 28 new affordable homes. Read more here

General Synod recently backed a motion encouraging churches and cathedrals to explore ways of arranging flowers that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible as part of the Sustainable Church Flowers movement. The Sustainable Church Flowers movement is a national and ecumenical network offering practical support to parishes, arrangers and clergy. Read more here

At a recent Women’s Community Iftar hosted and led by Kaneez Khan MBE of Wellsprings Together, the message was clear: when women come together in faith, solidarity, and hope, light will always overcome fear. As the community came together for the second time, they reflected on how to establish traditions that foster safe, welcoming spaces where women from diverse faiths, cultures, and communities can come together in friendship, understanding, and shared purpose. Read more here

The Diocese of Leeds is gathering feedback from church goers on the benefits of the Buildings for Mission and Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins grant schemes, and wants to hear from you. The Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins Fund awards up to £10,000 to help churches launch small scale decarbonisation projects as part of their journey to net zero. Read more here

St Michael’s Headingley have been helping those without homes in Leeds get through the coldest winter weeks by taking part in the Leeds Winter Night Shelter. Organised by street outreach charity ‘Change, Grow, Live’ (CGL), the shelter runs for eight weeks through the coldest time of the year, with eight churches signing up to take part for one week each. 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.

Parcevall Hall are running a variety of retreats.

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

Self-love(d): learning to love God, neighbour and self, through the insights of mindfulness

Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29

Led by Karen Openshaw and Bishop Chris Edmondson 

This is an invitation to experience more of the extravagant love God has for us and discover a healthier rhythm of being, doing and loving. Cost £235

“He is risen, Alleluia!” A mindful singing retreat

Friday, April 17

Led by Revd Mike Leigh

In the Easter season, sing your faith with others led by Mike who is a natural voice practitioner. There will be songs from across the world that are easy to learn and full of harmony. Together we will create community, build self-confidence and open the channels of our awareness of God, other people and the beauty of creation. The day runs from 10am - 4pm. Lunch and refreshments are included. Cost £45

Falling Upwards

Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19

Led by Revd Dilly Baker

Inspired by the writing of Richard Rohr, this retreat offers you the chance to map an engaged Christian faith that is characterised by radical compassion, both for yourself and the world. Together we will explore what it might mean to work with the ‘failings and fallings’ of our lives in such a way as to discover a deeper and more authentic way of living. Led by Dilly, an experienced retreat leader and life coach. Cost £235

Copster Barn and Gardens will be open for quiet prayer

and reflection between Friday, March 30 - Monday, April 4. Come and take some time out to reflect on the events

leading up to that first Easter Day. There will be various

stations around the grounds based on scenes from the

stories of Holy Week.

No need to book, just come along for as long or short as you like.

Copster Barn and grounds are not yet fully Accessible. We are working on this but for now please be aware there are steps and uneven ground.

Contact Details – Chris and Helen Tel 07525097640 copsterbarn@gmail.com

All free - face painting, jiu jitsu, stalls, pro wrestling, game, music, BBQ, cakes, breakdancing, prayer tent and inflatables.

Find out more here.

Come and find out about the Diocesan Internship programme and explore how we can support your church with finding and recruiting potential interns. We will be looking together at what it looks like to invest in an intern over a year, the joys, challenges, and practicalities for the churches involved, and how to spot and recruit interns.

To join the conversation and get a link, please email katharine.greathead@leeds.anglican.org.

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.

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.

Upcoming events from Harrogate School of Theology:

• Saturday, March 28, lecture: Julian of Norwich and the Last Judgement. With Revd Dr Janet Williams. Please note the change in date.
• Saturday, April 18, seminar: Wilding Disciple-making and Mission. With Revd Ben Askew.

Find out more here.

Illustrated with music by Handel, Stainer, Haydn, Mozart, Palestrina, Faure, Victoria and Bach.

Find out more and book here.

Finzi's Intimations of Immortality and Poulene's Organ Concerto Gloria sung by the Ripon Choral Society. Conducted by John Dunford with Orchestra D’Amici.

Find out more and book here.

The Saviour by William Lloyd Webber, sung by the choir of Leeds Minster. A meditation on the life and Passion of Christ.

The Crucifixion by John Stainer, sung by the choir of Christ Church New Mill.

A meditation in Music, Art & Words for Good Friday presented by the Choir of Christ Church. Music by Victoria, Schutz, Tallis, Lobo, Haydn, Wood, Redhead, Novello and Ireland.

Please note that the Follow Me session on the evening of Thursday, April 16 has been cancelled.

However, Bishop Malcolm has planned two future sessions for the evenings of Thursday, June 11 and Thursday, October 15.

Details for the events will be advertised in due course

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.

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.

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 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). You will work closely with the Director and Deputy Director of Education to lead diocesan support for school governance, admissions, academy conversions, and DBE approval processes, ensuring our schools and trusts receive expert guidance and that all legal and compliance requirements are met. Find out more about this role here

We’re looking for an organised and proactive individual to support the Diocese’s racial justice work. This role provides essential administrative and communications support to the Racial Justice Officer and the Racial Justice Board. Find out more about this role here

Due to growth, St Hild has two job vacancies available: 

Sheffield Centre Administrator

We are recruiting a part-time (0.5 FTE) administrator for our Sheffield Centre. 

Closing date is Sunday, April 12 2026

Interviews on Tuesday, April 21 2026 in Sheffield.

Systems and Data Officer

We are recruiting a part-time (0.4 FTE) Systems and Data Officer to join our Operations team. 

Closing date is Sunday, April 12 2026

Interviews on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Sheffield or online.

Find out more about these roles 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 April 23. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!