Leeds@10 - The Diocese's 10th Anniversary is fast approaching

The 10th anniversary of the Diocese of Leeds takes place on Saturday, April 20, 2024 and is an opportunity for us all to both reflect and look forward to coming decades. The Diocese was created in 2014, and the Rt Revd Nick Baines became its first Bishop in June of that year. Read more here

Revd Ian will ride and run 75 miles to mark the diocese's 10th Anniversary

One of our clergy is hopping on his bike, then jumping into running shoes for a 75 mile sponsored odyssey to mark the diocese’s 10th Anniversary this April. Revd Canon Ian Greenhalgh, Area Dean for the Bowland and Ewecross Deanery will ride and run across the Ripon and Bradford Areas and hopes to raise funds to help support our churches. Read more here

Day of encouragement held in Wensley Deanery

Some 50 people representing all the Benefices and groups of churches across Wensley Deanery in the Ripon area came together recently for a day of encouragement linked to our Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence work. The Revd Gillian Lunn, Curate in the Benefice of Leyburn and Bellerby said: “The day included some time of worship, praying for all that is happening across the deanery, and a time of sharing where we see God at work in our communities and in our churches." Read more here

Let the bells ring out for Barnoldswick!

New bells will ring out the Christian message for centuries to come, thanks to community support for one of our churches. St Mary-Le-Ghyll, Barnoldswick has just welcomed two new treble bells to complete a project in begun in 2008 to create a ring of eight and finished in the 10th anniversary year of the Diocese of Leeds. Read more here

Give a 'Gift of Dignity' this Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is on Sunday, March 10, and to mark the occasion the Mothers’ Union are asking people to help share the ‘Gift of Dignity’. Elaine Swinhoe, President of the Mothers’ Union in our diocese, said: “For Mothering Sunday members have been asked to buy a 'Gift of Dignity' to help empower women worldwide to transform their lives and reach their full potential.” Read more here

Bradford Faith Trail returns to share faith across city

The people of Bradford are able to explore the different faiths of the city in a new way, with the return of the Bradford Faith Trail. Bradford Cathedral welcomed visitors at the end of the first Faith Trail of 2024 on Saturday, March 2. Read more here

Leeds Festival looking for Angels for this year

Festival Angels are planning a return to Leeds Festival for the thirteenth year at Yorkshire's biggest music festival. Held at Bramham Park every August Bank Holiday weekend, Leeds Festival attracts around eighty five thousand festival goers, thousands of staff and some of the biggest names in music. Read more here

Sign up for 50 daily devotions!

Email daily devotionals between Easter and Pentecost

During the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost, you can subscribe to receive a daily devotion to help mark the 10^th Anniversary of the Diocese. Each day a reflection, written by a different member of our diocese, will be emailed to you. As we journey through the Book of Acts, every reflection will be linked to one of the areas of focus in our Rhythm of Life initiative: encourage, share, create, pray, rest, celebrate, reflect. There will also be ideas for activities and links to good news stories.

To sign up, click here. For more on the Rhythm of Life initiative, click here.

Rhythm of Life Lent Retreats 2024

February and March 2024

A time to pause and reflect on the rhythms of our lives. Each retreat will be led/hosted by one of our Area Bishops. 

• Wakefield EA – Saturday, March 9, 10am - 3pm (Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield)
• Leeds EA – Saturday, March 9, 10am - 3pm (Leeds Minster)

Please click on the individual events in the listing here for further details and booking information.

Lent Meditation

Thursday, March 14, 8pm - 9pm, online via Zoom

With the help of Scripture and other sources of inspiration, we journey deeper into Lent to follow Jesus on the way to the cross. This session offers an opportunity to reflect, pray and practice christian meditation. Find out more here.

Step Forward 2024

Saturday, March 23, 10.30am - 4.30pm, Bishopthorpe, York, YO23 2GE

A day for anyone aged 18 to 30 considering ministry in the Church of England. There will be time for worship, prayer and Bible study; an opportunity to find out what being ordained is really like – its highs and lows; space to look at your own experience and what God might be calling you to in the future; and the chance to discover how the selection process and ordination training programmes work. Find out more here.

Licensed Lay Ministry (Reader) Training starting in September 2024

Now open for initial inquiries

The Invitation Pack documents may be downloaded here (scroll down the page to the 'Taking this further' box). The deadline for initial enquiry forms is Friday, March 1, 2024. The application pack will only be sent out after your initial enquiry form has been received – so the earlier you express your interest, the earlier you will get the application pack. Expressing interest via the Initial Enquiry form does not commit you to applying.

More details and the Application Timeline can be found here from which the initial enquiry form for 2024 may be downloaded (scroll down to the Taking this further box).

Introduction to Theology Summer 2024

Monthly in-person at the Trinity Centre, Bingley. Sundays: March 17, April 21, May 12, June 9, 9am – 4pm

A 12 session journey looking at the Christian faith, your own faith journey and developing theological skills. All students will be encouraged to create a portfolio showcasing their new skills. Attending an ITT course is a pre-requirement for Licensed Lay Ministry training. Potential LLM candidates need to submit a complete portfolio for review by Friday, June 21, 2024. This date is compatible with applying to start LLM training in September 2024. If you are successful at a selection interview for LLM training, a conditional place will be offered subject to a review of your portfolio. 

Further information and the booking link can be found here: Summer 2024

Prayer Ministry Training

Thursday, March 21, 1:30pm - 4pm, St Giles’, Bramhope

A day training course exploring Prayer Ministry. Suitable for pastoral care teams and other lay leaders who may be asked to pray alongside those in need.

More details and booking information can be found here.

Renewing Hope in Smaller Churches

Wednesday, April 17, 10am – 4pm, St James, Lower Darwen, Blackburn

This day is aimed particularly at leaders and worshippers in smaller local churches (typically 15-55 worshippers on a regular Sunday). Facilitated by Revd Jolyon Trickey, Ven David Picken and others, with teaching on Ephesians 1 from Bishop Mark Ashcroft, we will encounter God afresh, renewing our confidence in the inextinguishable power of biblical hope. We will also have time to worship, to reflect, and to wrestle together with the practicalities of living hopefully in our own little local and ‘ordinary’ churches. For further information and to book a ticket please click here. 

You can also sign up to find out more about our ministry and upcoming events at www.resourcingrenewal.org.

Finding and Working with Interns: a conversation

Tuesday, April 23, 4.30pm - 5.30pm, online

Come and join us in a conversation about finding and working with interns.

This is an opportunity to:

• hear about our Diocesan intern scheme which equips young adults for life, work and leadership as disciples of Christ through placements in churches and training;
• find out about the process of finding and recruiting potential interns and how we can support this, what it looks like to invest in an intern over a year and what your church would need to commit to.

Whether this is something you are considering now, have a vision for in the future, or maybe have personal experience of, we would be delighted to welcome you in the conversation as we look to grow more disciples and leaders across all parts of the Diocese through the internship scheme.

To join the conversation, please email the Internship Co-ordinator katharine.greathead@leeds.anglican.org for a Zoom link.

We very much look forward to hearing from you.

Spring Study Sessions: Hard to Believe

Wednesday, May 8; Wednesday, May 15; Wednesday, May 22, 6.30pm - 8pm, Wakefield Cathedral

We may struggle with believing ourselves, or if we do believe find it hard when others have difficult questions. Whether you are struggling with believing yourself and/or talking with others who find it hard, these three introductory talks by Canon Philip will explore some of the common problems people have with Christianity. You can come to some or all, ask questions or just listen, and you’ll be very welcome!

Three Wednesdays in May at Wakefield Cathedral

• May 8 - Darwin and Dawkins: Faith and Science
• May 15 - Disaster: Faith and Suffering
• May 22 - Da Vinci Code: Faith and History

For more information email admin@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk or call 01924 373923.

All Inclusive? Supporting Children and Young People with Additional Needs

Saturday, May 18, 10am - 1pm, St Barnabas Alwoodley

A workshop from Urban Saints considering accessibility, inclusion and belonging for all. How can parents, churches and children’s/youth workers, not only understand more about the children we are working with, but also change the way we work with them so to be more inclusive and create belonging for all? This training session works through all of these important questions and equips and enables participants to be agents of change in their own group. To book your place for this session, please email childrenyouth@leeds.anglican.org.

Find out more here.

Resting in God Retreat

Friday, June 7 - Sunday, June 9 2024, Parcevall Hall

The intention of this retreat is to respond to Jesus’ invitation: ‘Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ There will be space to rest and to receive from God, and opportunities to be nurtured by Scripture, other spiritual resources and prayer. The retreat will spiritually nurture those who need a short break from the busyness and stresses of life. Led by Henriette Howarth. For more information, please contact henriette.howarth@leeds.anglican.org. Find out more here.

Lent Course - How to Hear God

Every Tuesday in Lent, East Keswick Methodist Church, LS17 9EJ

Come and join a friendly, ecumenical Lent course, based on the book 'How to Hear God' by Pete Grieg. 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.

Women of Faith: a Lenten Retreat

Friday, March 8, 9.45am - 3pm, St John's Ben Rhydding

Tickets £25.00, including refreshments and light lunch.

Enquiries: fundraising@benrhydding.org.uk

Please book here.

Please note a booking fee will be applied. Light lunch will include (soup, bread & Fruit). mThere will be vegetarian and Gluten free options available, please inform us if you have any other dietary requirements.

Mendelssohn's Elijah

Saturday, March 16, 7.30pm, St George's Hall Bradford

Join Bradford's historic choir for a captivating performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah on Saturday, March 16 at St. George's Hall.

Presented by Bradford Festival Choral Society, Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, a glittering array of soloists and featuring with children from the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme.

Conducted by Thomas Leech, it promises to be a remarkable evening of music.

Tickets from Bradford Theatres box office here.

Come and Sing: Coleridge Requiem

Sunday, March 24, 1.30pm - 4.30pm, Bradford Cathedral

Matthew Coleridge directs a liturgical performance of his Requiem. Join Bradford Cathedral Choir for a Come and Sing Requiem for Palm Sunday. We'll spend the afternoon rehearsing this sublime work, before singing in a Palm Sunday evening service co-directed by Matthew and the Cathedral's Director of Music, Graham Thorpe. Find out more here.

Matt Britton bringing to life Mark's Gospel

Saturday, March 30, 7pm - 9pm, St James' Thornton

Mark’s Gospel presented as a high-octane eye-witness account. Memorised from scripture, word for word, and told with urgency, excitement, and good old northern grit, this is a compelling ninety-minute rollercoaster of a ride through the speediest of gospels!

Scripture comes to life, as the written word is heard not read, in one flowing narrative, with no chapter breaks. Relive the healing of the man with a withered hand, the calming of the storm, and feeding of the 5000 as if you were there.

Seen and heard in one sitting, actor, Matt Britton, animates the stories of Mark as if eye-witness to it all. Alone on stage, no gimmickry, no elaborate staging or props, simply a storyteller armed with the greatest story ever told, this touring piece brings whole new meaning to ‘living epistle.’ Find out more here.

Earth Day Events at Hepworth Gallery and Wakefield Cathedral

Saturday, April 20 - Sunday, April 21, The Hepworth Wakefield

The Eco Group from Wakefield Cathedral are taking part in an Earth Day event at the Hepworth gallery on the weekend of the 20/21 April. We are hoping to publicise how the church as a whole is working towards the 2030 Net Zero challenge, many through the A Rocha scheme.

To this end we would like to invite churches in the diocese to contribute photos and an explanation of any work done which might be of interest to the general public. We will display the materials in the cathedral for the following week as the Earth Day theme is the focus of a Family Fun Day in the cathedral on Saturday, April 27.

Please contact on admin@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk FAO Eco Group if you can send over some photos and text.

Company of Servers Annual National Festival Eucharist and AGM

Saturday, April 27, 10am – 4pm, St Mary's Whitkirk

Lunch will be provided. Everyone is welcome. Please bring your own robes. New members will be most welcome. Please let us know if you wish to be admitted at any of these services. If you need any further information, please contact Secretary Sue Middleditch on 0113 2643946 or 07976 209127, or middleditch@live.com.

‘Follow me’: Being Transformed as Disciples of Christ

Monday, April 29 - Thursday, May 2, Yarnfield Park, ST15 0NL

When Jesus calls us to follow him, he is inviting us into a lifelong journey of transformation and renewal. How are we living that out as disciples of Christ? On Fire Mission is inviting you to come as you are and join us at OFM onsite 2024 for a time away to recharge, to discover fresh perspectives and insights, and to become part of a Spirit-filled, creative, sacramental community; equipping Christians to become agents of renewal in their local context. We will be joined by a host of great contributors, from across the OFM network and beyond, offering great teaching, inspiring workshops, dynamic worship and much more. Find out more here

Parish Share - A Message From Bishop Nick

As we talk about Parish Share in 2024, hear a message from Bishop Nick giving a big thank you to all those who give their money generously, individually and through their parishes, which pays the Parish Share.

Watch the video here.

New Bells at Barnsoldwick

New bells will ring out the Christian message for centuries to come, thanks to community support for one of our churches.

St Mary-Le-Ghyll, Barnoldswick has just welcomed two new treble bells to complete a project in begun in 2008 to create a ring of eight and finished in the 10th anniversary year of the Diocese of Leeds.

Watch the video here.

Church Buildings and Pastoral Reorganisation Team Coordinator - Diocese of Leeds

The Team Coordinator will work across the team to provide administrative support and ensure the smooth operation of all aspects of our small and busy team’s work, which encompasses the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC), the Area Mission and Pastoral Committees (AMPCs) and the Closed Churches Task Group (CCTG). The DAC supports parishes in maintaining their church buildings and making appropriate changes, the AMPCs look at ways to better organise parishes through boundary changes and other means, and the CCTG considers new uses for churches that have closed. The Team Coordinator will play a key role in drawing together the different aspects of the team’s remit in a consistent way and ensuring the smooth operation of all our work. Find out more about this role here

Personal Assistant to the Area Bishop for Huddersfield (Maternity Cover)

One of the key aspects of the Diocese of Leeds is the "Episcopal Area" system. This means each of the five areas has a designated bishop who has responsibility for them, allowing for close episcopal involvement across the diocese. As Personal Assistant to the Area Bishop for Huddersfield, you will provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to Bishop Smitha, enabling her to fulfil her Ministry and wider responsibilities. Working from the Huddersfield Episcopal Area Office at the University of Huddersfield, you will welcome visitors, keep files up to date and produce a variety of documents for the Bishop. Find out more about this role here

Moves and Appointment

Revd Natasha Thomas to be Interim Priest in Charge of Shipley St Peter in the Bradford area