here - Bradford South Methodist Circuit

“Sharing God’s Love”
“As God’s people we seek to work together to celebrate and share
God’s love in Christ for all”.
Life in Bradford South Circuit is often exciting, regularly challenging but this is a circuit of lively
faith and people seeking to grow as disciples. The circuit covers the south of the city, in all the
communities Christians are in the minority, but the majority varies from Muslim to those of
no faith. This diversity means that the events of world politics often affects our communities
immediately and with the risk of real local conflict. For those who live as Christians this
requires wisdom and courage to know when to speak and when to stay silent.
In these communities the Circuit seeks to act as a mission unit, drawing members together to
explore new ideas so that small churches can share resources and act in mission together.
This strategy continues to work well and develop new possibilities. In the last year Messy
Church has begun and within 10 months is working with over 100 people in 3 venues, and
offering teenagers the opportunity to lead and witness to their faith.
The Circuit seeks to connect disciples across the city to explore and deepen discipleship.
Circuit services provide an opportunity to explore worship together with a variety of styles
and possibilities. The flexibility of those who lead worship has offered some exciting and deep
services. The festivals offer opportunities to experience in a variety of creative ways worship
across all the churches. Holy Week this year enabled the exploration of the hard places of
faith.
In a city that is often challenging and exciting, with the particular challenges of the circuit in
the last year it is important that people are drawn together in love and faith. The work which
has begun and which has continued in this year is a real testimony to the guidance of God
and the trust the staff and members have in that leading. The Circuit continues to draw
together members, deepen their relationships with each other and their discipleship. It is a
creative and exciting place to belong.
This report seeks to bear witness to that. It details the work of the circuit, staff and members
over a very challenging year and recognises that for this to be so God must be at work in
Bradford South Circuit. We give grateful thanks to God for all that we have been a part of this
year, we trust God for what is to come, we seek your prayers for the future.
Revd. Louise Carr
Circuit Superintendent Minister

All we do as a circuit is within the beliefs and practices of
the Methodist Church.

Each person is created in the image of God.

All people are therefore valued and respected regardless of
age, gender, sexuality, ability, cultural background or faith.

We are responsible, under God, for each other and our
social, spiritual and personal needs.

All members of groups or churches should be allowed and
enabled to participate in decision making, within the proper
process.

We adhere to the United Nations rights of the child in our
work with young people.

All should be kept safe from harm and it is the responsibility
of us all to work towards this together with particular
attention to the requirements of the Methodist Church.

We respect and value the work of all, paid and voluntary in
the circuit.
Ministerial Staff
We operate shared ministry, with two ministers looking after each church.
Revd. Louise Carr—Circuit Superintendent
Churches: Clayton, Clayton Heights, Cornerstone (Great Horton), Ebenezer (Dudley Hill),
Southfield Lane, Wibsey, Wyke
Revd. Phil Drake
Churches: Cornerstone (Great Horton), Thornbury, Trinity (Manningham),
plus minister in Bradford North Circuit
Revd. Graeme Dutton
Churches: Aldersgate, Clayton, Ebenezer (Dudley Hill), Horton Bank, Laisterdyke Trinity,
New Hey Road (East Bowling), Thornbury, Trinity (Manningham)
Revd. Paul Flowers (suspended since 17th November 2013)
Revd. Lyn Gregg
Churches: Aldersgate (Low Moor), Clayton Heights, Horton Bank, Laisterdyke Trinity,
New Hey Road (East Bowling), Southfield Lane, Wibsey, Wyke
Deacon Irene Tafirenyika
Children & Families Worker
Lay Staff
Mr. Michael Dewhirst—Lay Pastoral Worker
Mr. Trevor Kershaw—Circuit Administrator
Mrs. Alison Terrell– Circuit Administrator & Lay Pastoral Worker
Mrs. Laura Tunnacliffe—Circuit Youth Worker
Circuit Office
New Hey Road Methodist Church, Brompton Road, East Bowling, Bradford BD4 7HY
Tel: 01274 724321
Email: [email protected]
For more information about the Circuit, visit our website: www.southbradfordmethodist.org.uk
Opening Hours
Tuesday 8.30am—1.30pm Wednesday 8.30am—1.00pm
Thursday 8.15am—11.45am
Rev. Graeme Dutton
6am - Woken by the sound of 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' being sung at full volume over the
baby monitor punctuated by giggles and shouts for 'Daddy'. A wonderful way to start the day,
much nicer than any alarm clock.
6:15 - After a quick nappy change (for Owen!) while Mia jumps on my back downstairs to
watch Cbeebies, check the diary for the week and read this Sundays scripture readings so I
can start thinking about my sermon over the coming week.
6:30 - Realise I didn't send an email I should have sent yesterday about a property issue that it
will later turn out I have magnificently failed to grasp (making me look just about as silly as I
am.)
7am - Owen crying because he's managed to jam a plastic figure of Upsy Daisy into the
mechanism of a hippo that shoots balls out of a tree. Start to disassemble toy to constant
questioning from Mia of 'What you doing Daddy? What you doing?'
7:30 - Victory is mine! Upsy Daisy is free, Becky is now up too so Mia, Owen and Becky
celebrate with breakfast. While they're eating we decide on housework jobs for the day.
Becky to sort out clearing up after breakfast, do three loads of washing at various points
throughout day, go to the post office and the bank and do the shopping order all inbetween
taking Mia and Owen to see their Grandma and Great Grandma. They won't be back till late
but will do kids their bath at Grandma's then she'll mop all floors in house when she's back if I
can do dishwasher and vacuum through.
8am - First phone call of the day. Gas man wants to read meter at church, can I go and let him
in?
8:02 - Shower and dressed!
8:10 - Let gas man into church after I convince him I really am the minister. Stay while he
checks meter and tells me about how much he hates church because it's boring.
8:30 – Back home for Breakfast and to look at the news... we're not in it! Phew!
8:45 – Start to work on a PowerPoint presentation for a service later in the week that includes
making a few different videos and typing out some liturgy.
9:45 – Phone rings. It's a call about booking a room at the church 'Does the hall have a bar?' I
explain that we're a Methodist church so no alcohol is allowed on the premises. 'Not even for
a party? Not even if we bring our own cans?' They ask. 'No' I reply and the phone goes dead.
10am - Just about to unload dishwasher when phone rings again. Someone wants to talk to
me about how disappointed they were with my service yesterday. I had 'dumbed down my
sermon', used far too many 'boppy new hymns' and it had given 'short change' as the service
only lasted 47mins. I explain it was a baptism with lots of visitors so felt I should try and
include them more in the service and give them a simple gospel message as it might be the
first time some of them had ever had the chance to hear it. I'm told by the other end of the
phone that if they'd known it was a baptism they wouldn't have come, it's always hard to park
and they can't sit in their seat. I put the phone down
10:20 - Scream
10:30 - Realise I have a meeting at 11am that I should have done some planning for... I've
done no planning
10:31 - Planning!
11am - Meeting
12 noon – Lunch and finishing PowerPoint I started earlier.
1:30 - Return and start to unload dishwasher but notice answer phone light is flashing.
Funeral director could I please call them back. I do and am asked to lead a funeral at the end
of the week. Friday afternoon is clear so I agree and I'm given details of family involved. Only
when I hang up do I look at rest of diary and realise there's no space in week to meet with
family. Service preparation time is shifted from Wednesday afternoon to after church council
on Wednesday evening, hopefully family can meet on Wednesday afternoon. I ring them and
they can. Wednesday will be a long day, not looking forward to Wednesday.
2:30 - Pastoral meeting, Prayer with the Dying. The hardest, most humbling, awe inspiring
and it feels the most productive part of this day. 'Go Forth Christian Soul'
3:30 - Return home and spend some time in quiet prayer.
4pm - Check answer phone. Two messages about room bookings at church.
4:30 - Preparation for tonight's Meeting. Reading minutes, agendas, making notes and
thinking of questions.
5pm - Start to unload dishwasher. Email arrives about property issue telling me, very kindly,
that I've completely missed the point.
5:10 - Try to get the point
5:50 - Got the point, I think!
6pm - Make some tea and eat while replying to other emails.
6:30 - Phone rings. Complaint about teenagers kicking balls into people's gardens. Turns out
they are playing on church lawn and I have (apparently) magical powers to stop this
happening.
7pm - Start to unload dishwasher. Realise I haven't got the point on property issue. Read last
email about it again.
7:15 - Phone rings. 'Hi I need your help. What it is, right...... (Very long explanation of
numerous problems) so I need some cash like, right now.' I explain that's not how we work
but will happily go and do some shopping for essentials that I can drop off for them. Get told
'you're (expletive) useless, (expletive) off and die'. Phone goes dead.
7:30 - Meeting. Some good stuff talked about and interesting ideas put forward.
9:30 - Return home. Kids already in bed. Becky has unloaded dishwasher, vacuumed up and
cleaned all the floors. I feel like a rubbish dad and a rubbish husband.
9:32 - A message from a congregation member telling me how much they had appreciated
yesterday’s service. Feel much better.
9:35 - Becky asleep on sofa so I write newsletter article then wake Becky up to go to bed. As
we fall back asleep I say 'Tomorrow I'll empty the dishwasher, I promise’.
Messy Church
The Circuit Office continues to support staff and churches with administrative assistance and act as a means
of communication and advice around the circuit and beyond.
For most of this year we have been understaffed following the departure of Joanne Softley the previous year.
Trevor has continued to hold the fort juggling Admin and Accounts and has been ably assisted on a
temporary basis by Laura Tunnacliffe, the Circuit Youth Worker, but it became clear that eventually we
would need to appoint another administrator to replace Joanne.
An internal advert offering 6 hours a week appeared to have been unsuccessful until Alison Terrell, one of
our Pastoral Workers, took up the offer to combine both roles and started working in the office from April
2014. This meant that Laura could revert to her own job and the office was once again fully staffed. Alison
has proved to be a very capable addition to the Admin team.
The office opening hours remain unchanged, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and the answer
phone will pick up messages in between those times.
Trevor Kershaw & Alison Terrell
Circuit Administrators
In August 2013 we welcomed Lyn Gregg and Graeme Dutton as presbyters to Bradford South Circuit. They
settled into Bradford well and became valued members of the Leadership Team.
At about the same time, with guidance from the Chair of the District we met Sarah Jemison who was looking
for a part time post to begin in August 2014. She was unanimously accepted by the invitation committee .
In December we had a visit from Revd Ruth Gee the then President of Conference.
Manse problems are always with us. This Spring it was noticed that there were large cracks in the outer walls
of Thorncroft Road manse. Thankfully it was not as severe as first thought. It is now going through major
repairs.
In November we received disturbing revelations about Revd Paul Flowers. The presbyters and Leadership
Team worked hard to support the congregations. The process of law is being followed. The manse on Hollingwood Drive is undergoing some refurbishment in preparation for Sarah Jemison and her husband John.
This year also saw the sad closure of Laisterdyke Trinity. Our sympathies go to the congregation as they
move to new churches. They will be welcomed I am sure.
We now go forward in hope and knowledge that the Lord is with us.
Please hold the presbyters and Leadership Team in your prayers
Suzanne Allsop, Noelle Thompson & Christine Milner
Circuit Stewards
I joined the staff at the beginning of October last year, and after going out visiting with Mick
Dewhirst a few times, found myself picking my way round Bradford, stopping frequently to
check my A to Z! It’s difficult at first when you go to visit people as a stranger who they’ve
never seen before. However gradually it changed. A smile of recognition as they open the
door, sharing a cup of tea as they show me family photos, and I start to feel at home here.
Fascinating stories emerge from a time before I was born. Even more precious are the days
when someone opens up and shares their concerns, and we can read scripture and pray
together, or when they ask for communion and we sit and share bread and wine. There are
harder times of course, visiting people who are confused and
distressed, or those who just look blank, not knowing who you
are, or even who they are. All I can do is try and meet them in
their confusion and leave them in God’s care.
There are ups and downs, but all in all, a great job, with a
lovely bunch of people, supported by a great team!
Alison Terrell
Lay Pastoral Visitor
Over the last year the circuit has been busy, as usual, with various building projects ranging from
improvements at manses to assisting churches with disabled access schemes to selling buildings to
negotiating deals with major supermarkets! The sheer variety of properties under the care of managing
trustees in this circuit has certainly kept us busy and entertained.
The Circuit Property forum, which includes reps from all of our circuit churches working alongside ministers
and circuit stewards, has proved to be an excellent place for support, information sharing and advice. I hope
it's also helped the smooth and succinct running of the property section of our Circuit Meetings.
We are currently in the middle of overseeing a number of important projects. These include ongoing and
potential sales and some major building alterations on churches and manses. Alongside this we are also
continuing to assist with procedure and reporting tasks such as quinquennials and annual property returns.
Thank you to everyone who gives their time and effort to support their churches and the circuit in this vital
work. I firmly believe the good stewardship of our resources is absolutely key in our Gospel mission.
If you have any property questions at all please don't hesitate to ask me and I will quickly and efficiently
direct you to someone who knows what they are talking about!
Rev Graeme Dutton
Holy Week in Bradford South
A few years ago our family had a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads. The thing you notice
very quickly on such a holiday is that you can’t move fast. The boat travelled at a maximum
speed of 4 mph and quite often we didn’t get up to the maximum speed! The effect of this,
after a couple days, is that you start to move more slowly yourself, not in a lethargic sense,
but rather you realise that all the normal business is not as important as it seemed when you
were at work and, equally important, you have time to notice things around in a different
way. You have time as one poet has put it to ‘stop and stare’, to think and to reflect and to
consider what it is vital and significant in life.
In the Christian Year there are regular periods for slowing down. Advent and Lent are obvious
ones and for a long time Sundays have been such an opportunity. For me Holy Week is
another slowing down period. I have, for many years, tried to find some time each day from
Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, to think about the meaning of Christ’s suffering, death and
resurrection. Sometimes this has been through daily readings, but often it has been in
gathering together with other Christians to reflect together on some aspects of that week.
It was a delight therefore to be invited to spend Holy Week in the Bradford South Circuit. I felt
I was making the journey towards Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the company of others
who wanted to consider what all this means, and what we should do. Not that it was an easy
week. We visited some dark sides of Jesus’ way to the Cross –denial, violence, weeping and
loss- and in so doing, we found ourselves reflecting on the dark sides of our own experience
and that of the world. We looked deep into the scriptures and engaged with a variety of
media, from making collages and crosses to cartoon film and modern video, and at the same
time got to know each other better on the pilgrimage. For me (and I think for many others), it
helped to rediscover how faith in Jesus is connected to all things, and speaks to the whole of
life – even its grim and gruesome sides.
Easter Sunday was, as always, the highpoint of the year – celebrating the resurrection of
Jesus, God’s new creation of love breaking into the world. It was made all the more wonderful
because of the Holy Week meetings.
A bonus for me, as one who visits over 150 churches but can’t be part of any one for a long
time, was to feel I knew some folk better and was known better. I felt I was in a community,
making the Lent and Easter journey. On Easter Sunday at Cornerstone between the early
morning and mid-morning services, the flowers were being freshened by a gentle spray. As
the flower lady passed me chatting to some folk after breakfast I got sprayed too! It was a
gently, friendly and humorous gesture and it made us all laugh. It summed up for me that I
was among friends, for whom Holy Week had been a good and important journey.
Thank You
Roger L Walton
Chair of District
Summer activities
&
Youthlinks
Cornerstone 200 year celebrations
Our celebrations spanned three weekends in June. We chose to start appropriately on
Pentecost weekend with our own minister Louise preaching in the morning. Joanne Dodds
the outgoing Deputy Mayor and a church members was present in her last official role before
handing over office. In the evening we had a Circuit service of celebration “ Pentecost Praise”
On the second Sunday we welcomed back Rev, Michael Faulkner along with four generations
of family members. Michael’s family previously had a long association with Great Horton
Wesley. On the final Sunday we were pleased to welcome back, for the first time since he left
to take up his first presbyteral appointment, the Rev. Frank Okai-Sam and his family. The
celebrations culminated in a family meal.
Throughout our celebrations we mounted an extensive exhibition of photographs and
memorabilia loaned by the people of the church. It included not only Great Horton Wesley
but all the other churches that have joined over the years and become the “ Cornerstone” of
today. The exhibition was opened by the new Lord Mayor as one of his first official
engagements.
For the exhibition Brian Crossland provided a leaflet detailing the history of the society from
its founding in 1766 ....It won’t be long before we are thinking about celebrating 250 years
On Sunday 31st August 2014 members of the congregation, friends from the circuit,
ecumenical partners and invited guests met in a final service of thanksgiving for the life and
work of Laisterdyke Trinity Church. The service formally marked the end of our time
worshipping in the rather impressive local landmark that Methodists have called home since
the Sunday School was rebuilt in 1929. Previous to that another chapel had stood on the
same site, known as Greenhill Wesleyan Chapel.
The various buildings on the site have been used for worship for literally hundreds of years
but have also housed a large number of uniformed organisations such as Boys’ Brigade,
Guides and Brownies. It will also have the site for a great many number of rites of passage
including baptisms, weddings (including the marriages of a number of very important
Bradfordians) and funerals.
More recently the congregation from the old Leeds Road Baptist church have met in common
fellowship with Methodists in the building.
The service was a grand occasion with the hall filled with the sound of the church members’
singing treasured hymns. Letters of greeting and sympathy from former ministers, members
of the Sunday school, representatives from the Yorkshire Baptist Association and from the
Chair of the West Yorkshire Methodist District were received and read. The sermon, delivered
by Louise, reminded us all of our need to celebrate our history, mourn what is past but rejoice
always in the church, as the people, and to journey on celebrating faithfully together.
The service was followed by afternoon tea and an exhibition of the churches’ history.
The congregation of Laisterdyke Trinity would like to thank all who attended the service and
all who have been holding them in prayer as they move on to meet as part of other
congregations.
I ask you to please continue those prayers, to welcome them with open arms and to rejoice in
the gifts they bring.
God Bless
Rev Graeme Dutton
The word deacon, and deaconess, is derived from the Greek word diakonos (διακονος), which
is often translated as servant. The office of deacon emerged in New Testament times and
today the diaconal movement exists all over the world.
In the Methodist Church deacons are men and women called by God to serve in many
different ways, offering lifetime commitment, and a willingness to serve where needed.
Their role focuses on bridging the gap between the church and the world, and has been
described as 'standing in the doorway of the church', keeping the door open both
ways (www.methodist.org.uk)
Being a deacon means I belong to the Methodist Diaconal Order of Great Britain. This is an
Order of Ministry and a Religious Order – this means that deacons are a dispersed community
who are bound together by prayer and a commitment to following a Rule of Life.
Diaconal ministry is incredibly varied. There are no two appointments quite the same, so it is
not easy to give a definitive description of what a deacon will do. However it is likely to be
people centred, encouraging, enabling, supporting and pastoral in nature.
The role may be public; leading worship, facilitating groups and being actively involved in the
life of the Church, or very private; dealing with people one to one, or out in the community.
The needs of the Church and community are matched with the gifts of the deacon alongside
those which the presbyters and lay people also bring. Deacons are committed to working
collaboratively wherever possible.
Deacons can be involved in worship, as preachers (if they are local preachers), worship
leaders, or sharing within the service, readings, prayers etc.
Some are chaplains to hospitals, hospices, universities, uniformed groups, prisons, schools or
farming communities.
Many are involved in training, youth work, supporting community projects or teaching (as in
Bible study and membership exploration).
The skills and opportunities offered by the work of a deacon will cover service, worship,
evangelism and learning and caring. Deacons try to live out in their personal and spiritual
lives what they do in their practical work; they are committed to offering a model of Christian
service as they seek to support and fulfil the needs of the church and community they are
appointed to serve.
Diaconal ministry can be the catalyst to exploring dreams and visions for the church and
community. Deacons can enable the gifts and graces of the local people to be released and
encouraged as together they discover, explore, share, enable and seek to understand their
faith journey and their part in the Kingdom of God.
For more information see the Diaconal Order website www.methodistdiaconalorder.org.uk
My vocation as the Children and Family Worker in the Bradford South Circuit has included:
working with children and families at Aldersgate, Horton Bank, Thornbury and Wibsey
setting up and leading Circuit Messy Church
working with primary schools
working in partnership with other churches and organisations
My aim has also been to support, enable and empower the great work that is currently taking
place within the circuit.
Deacon Irene Tafirenyika
Holiday at Home
July 22nd-24th 2014
Report
On three beautiful summer days in July, the cruise ship HM Wesley left the port of Aldersgate
and sailed to visit Spain, Italy and France. Sixty five passengers and 25 crew sailed under the
leadership of Captain Hogwash although some were unable to sail for the three days and
disembarked on route.
For those passengers who required transport from home to the port, this was provided by
our wonderful chauffeurs
HM Wesley offered all the facilities of a modern cruise liner. Wonderful meals, entertainment,
crafts, games, flower arranging, a beauty salon, reading room , duty free shopping and a daily
newssheet. Our spiritual needs were not forgotten and each day as the ship set sail our
chaplain led us with a God Spot.
It was a wonderful three days
It is intended to repeat the event on 21st-23rd July 2015 with another cruise.
Everything for the passengers is free of charge. Thank you to the churches and to the
passengers who so generously donated towards the cost. We have been able to carry forward
some funds but will need to seek funds again from the churches in the circuit and possible
grants in order to cruise again.
Thank you to all passengers and crew. Fun and fellowship were shared by all.
Jenny Hardy
Some of the comments made by the passengers:
“I have not enjoyed anything as much for a long time.”
“A big thank you to all who helped in any way for the Holiday at Home.”
“Many thanks for a very enjoyable three days of fun and entertainment and especially
fellowship, I am feeling refreshed again.”
“Thank you for all who made me so welcome and comfortable during the wonderful three
days I have enjoyed aboard ship.”
“The thought and work that has gone into this holiday is unbelievable.”
A day in the life of Wibsey Methodist Pre-school
Pre-school’s busy day starts for me at 5:30 am, I get up and try to do my home jobs before
setting off for work at 7:30. A quick stop at Jean’s to drop Ruby off and away I go!
Once at work myself, Jo, Vicky & Ryan set up both rooms and the garden (even though we
have bad backs and shouldn’t be lifting) The play rooms are planned around what we have
observed the children doing & what their favourite things to do are. Learning is individual for
each child, their development is monitored and evaluated regularly.
The day goes by in a whirl of observations, external meetings, nappy changing, team
meetings, training and administration with a bit of dragon slaying or mini beast hunting
thrown in for good measure.
Taking children out of the equation, the most important thing we do at pre-school is our
family support service and parental relationships, we are so proud at pre-school of this
additional service we offer our families, some of which are facing major personal issues. Jo
supports several children in the setting who have additional needs of varying severity. She
liaises with professionals, medical personnel & schools, to help the children and families get
the best support we can offer.
Our latest Quips (Quality Improvement prioritisation & support framework) inspection has
rated us as outstanding and as such I have been asked to mentor other schools or providers
who need a little support. Pre-school still awaits its Ofsted inspection…we wait with both
jangling nerves and a little excitement.
Lastly at the end of the day we put everything away, plan for tomorrow and eventually go
home…Phew!
I love my job at pre-school, I am proud of everything we stand for, its hard work and much of
it has to be done in our own time. We have built a good strong, reputation and our children
deserve and get the best start we can provide. After all – today’s children are tomorrows
adults and our future.
Michele Arundel
Pre-school Manager
Sometimes when you plan something it can make perfect absolute sense to you. When you
try and explain it to others however...!
After one or two blips on the first week it seems that each church in the circuit took an active
role in the travelling nativity by either travelling with or sending on the figures of Mary and
Joseph from their church each week. Conventional received wisdom states that Mary and
Joseph completed their travels on a donkey. However, we in the South Bradford Circuit now
know their mode of transport was most certainly a shoe box (or a margarine tub) and that on
some occasions their route was via the circuit office.
It was our hope that by using the same liturgy and by visiting other churches we might be
able to strengthen the links that already exist within the circuit. From conversations I've had,
with both folk who visited other churches and those who were able to receive visitors into
their congregations, it seems that opportunity for sharing was very much appreciated.
Several people have also commented to me that they were thankful for focused led prayers
for other churches in the circuit. Maybe that was particularly important given other
circumstances.
I do hope that whether you were part of taking figures to other churches, took a special
opportunity to welcome visitors or simply engaged with the liturgy each week that you felt
there was real value in following something of the journey undertaken by Mary and Joseph.
Certainly there have been a number of people that have asked if, now we understand how
things work, we could do the same next advent. Who knows, maybe I'll even use
abbreviations for each church that everyone understands!
Rev Graeme Dutton
Building cohesive relationships
This year work with Aldersgate Brigade has continued, visiting them on a regular basis and
connecting them into Youthlinks and the circuit summer activities. Connections with the
Scouts and Guides at Ebenezer continue through visits and leading one all-age parade service
per four-month plan. The work with the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades at New Hey Road has
increased and at the moment involves working with them most weeks, building a stronger
relationship with their seniors groups and linking them into the circuit activities.
Developing appropriate groups
CYG (Circuit Youth Group) is running well. There has been an increase in numbers over this
last year and there is now a core group of young people who have started bringing friends
with them. They have taken part in a variety of activities this year, including two Youthlinks
weekends and the summer activities, and are involved with planning and leading worship
once a plan.
Bob (the young person-led management group) is working well. After the departure of the
Mennonite Team last summer the group has undergone a big change. We have held three
open meetings with the young people since March where they have had a chance to make
suggestions for activities and fundraising ideas.
As a circuit we have been involved with two Youthlinks weekends this year. One in November
where we looked at being messengers of God, especially at Christmas; and one in July which
looked at the importance of being spiritually fit.
The young people in CYG have also been involved with helping to lead Messy Church in the
last year, providing support and helping to lead activities.
Encouraging engagement
In the last year the young people have been involved in the activities of the West Yorkshire
Youth Network, the District-wide youth-focused activities. We hosted an event at Cornerstone
in February, and some of our young people took part in the first Youth Synod in May.
CYG have continued to lead worship over the last twelve months, gaining in confidence and
taking a larger role in planning and leading worship. We will continue to take one service per
plan and are reaching the point where the young people are ready to plan and lead worship
with the youth leaders taking a back seat.
Laura Tunnacliffe
Circuit Youth Worker
We have had two Youthlinks weekends this year, both held at St Polycarp’s in Sheffield.
Both weekends have been fabulous and young people from our Circuit have enjoyed meeting
up with the young people in Sheffield for fellowship and friendship.
In November we focused on being messengers of God in the Advent season and thought
particularly about how we could share the real meaning of Christmas with those around us.
In July the focus was on being spiritually fit and how important that is for us.
In the last twelve months the leaders involved with Youthlinks have grown in confidence, to
the point where they have planned and led both weekends with some support from Laura,
Louise and Beki.
Sticky Faith is an initiative that we are starting to build into our work with young people but
can equally be applied to adults. It is based on building a faith that lasts with our children and
young people in a few simple ways. Firstly it encourages a 5:1 ratio—for each young person in
the church there should be five adults with whom they connect with other than their family.
These people can then help to develop and support the young person in their faith.
There are three principles that we need to consider to put the Sticky Faith concept into
practice:
1)
2)
3)
By teaching a grace-based Gospel instead of a list of dos and don’ts—teaching them that
God loves them regardless.
By building relationships with the parents and getting them involved with supporting
their child’s faith development—sometimes not as easy as others but important if the
faith we see developing is going to stick.
By encouraging an approach which includes young people in the wider life of the church
rather than always focusing on segregated worship—there is a time for doing things
separately but also time for bringing it together. This means that when a young person
grows out of Junior Church they feel that they have a place within the adult
congregation.
Laura Tunnacliffe
Circuit Youth Worker
This year's annual review includes a CD with a selection of songs from the new Touchstone
songbook. These are a collaborative effort between myself as Team Leader and Rod Boucher,
a wandering Australian who is currently living in community in Hackney. It seems fitting that
this partnership has happened as a seemingly random encounter, because much of the work
of Touchstone this year has been seeing what God brings each day.
Having said that, God has brought us into contact with some quite fascinating people both in
the UK and in Pakistan, as our partnership work develops. When Ruth and I were in Lahore in
May we met a wonderful group of young musicians, conversations with a village community
in the desert, a joyful sharing with a women's literacy project and, in my case, a close
encounter with a camel!. Pakistan continues to be a wonderful and challenging country and
we continue to draw inspiration from our developing partnerships.
After a challenging time with Methodist funding, we are now slightly more secure for our
ongoing work for a year or two, although Touchstone's work is still financially fragile. We have
continued to look for bigger grants to underpin our endeavours and are grateful to the British
Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the project Faith in Food, which has given us lots of
links into the local community especially restaurateurs. We sold 500 copies of our recipe book
in the run up to Christmas and are now considering a second edition!
We are also delighted to announce the arrival of two new Touchstone staff, Nicola as our
cleaner and Jenny as our new interfaith worker. Having them around makes everything seem
much more possible! And thanks need to go to Ruth and David, and all the Touchstone
volunteers who have kept their nerve and opened up new work during challenging times.
You will see some of the other excitement of the Touchstone year, within the Review. Thank
you to everyone for their on-going support and for the encouraging and developing life of
Touchstone.
Rev Dr Barbara Glasson
Touchstone Team Leader
We are very happy to announce that Messy Church is up and
running in our circuit as part of our mission to invite young
people and families to worship.
Messy Church is a two hourly event designed for families from
the church and community.
The Bible Reading Fellowship describes Messy Church as follows:
‘Messy Church is a way of being church for families and others based around welcome, crafts and art,
celebration and eating together. It meets at a time and in a place to suit people who don't belong to Sunday
church. It's built around and continues to develop around the needs of people on the fringe.'
Messy Harvest @ Cornerstone—18th October 2013
We started off with an interactive story of creation from Genesis chapter 1. Children participated by
putting together a Garden of Eden filled with different types of plants and animals. This was followed by
various crafts and activities such as decorating biscuits, making placemats, play dough seed patterns,
making fruit and vegetables with coloured play dough and song writing. Worship was led by CYG. The
session ended with volunteers and families having tea together – shepherd’s pie and cake and custard
some of which was prepared by volunteers from Cornerstone and other churches.
The feedback we received from both parents and children was very encouraging. A few parents asked if
they could help with the next one. Most of the children said it had been ‘lots of fun’ and asked if we could
have Messy Church more often. We recorded a total of 35 people including 20 children in attendance and
some of these families were new to church.
Messy Advent @ Aldersgate—7th December 2013
Although this was a busy time with families starting to prepare for Christmas, we still had a good turnout 28 people attended including 12 children. Reverend Lyn started us off with a story of Advent and this was
followed by various activities which included making Christmas cards, paper doll angels, nativity bracelets,
stress balls, storytelling, painting and putting up a Christmas tree. We then had worship where we thought
about the true meaning of Christmas and what the world might need at Christmas time. We wrote our
prayers on Christmas gift tags and put them up on the Christmas tree in church. We then had our tea –
again shepherd’s pie followed by cake and custard prepared by volunteers from Aldersgate.
The feedback from this session was also positive; parents were thankful and said they would come again if
we had another one.
Messy Lent @ Cornerstone—22nd February 2014
Messy Lent was very busy with almost 60 people there altogether.
Deacon Irene talked to us all about Lent being a journey and time to get ready for Easter. We had a mixture
of crafts and games including cross-shaped bottles for people to put different coloured sand into, scratch
art crosses where you scratch off the black top layer to show the rainbow-coloured underneath to make
whatever pattern you want, invites to the next Messy Church, a big collage and a music and dance activity.
We also had a quiet space for anyone who wanted it and some big games, including Giant Jenga and Giant
Noughts & Crosses for people to play. Worship was led by CYG (Circuit Youth Group) including a very active
song which everyone seemed to enjoy singing. We finished with a meal of cheese and potato pie and
baked beans which was provided by people from around the Circuit.
This is what CYG have to say about helping with Messy Church:
“I liked the sand stuff it was fun but if we had more bottles more people would have done it and enjoyed
it.”
“I enjoy messy church because it is messy.”
“I enjoyed the worship and the sand stuff. I really enjoy messy church and helping children to enjoy church in
a fun way.”
“I like messy church because it's where people can join together and do activities, sing songs and just have
fun!”
“I liked the activities and the song that we sung as a group.”
“The food was delicious as always so thanks, but can we have the left overs?”
Messy Easter @ Aldersgate—22nd March 2014
There were various activities including Easter baskets and cards, making crosses from Hama beads,
decorating crosses, and covering a picture of the world with paint, which Revd Lyn then used in worship to
show us how Jesus died on the cross to make things better for us and make the world a better place. We
finished worship with an action song led by CYG.
The meal this time, very ably cooked by the team at Aldersgate, was jacket potato with cheese and
beans...and included an emergency trip to the supermarket for more supplies!
This was our busiest Messy Church yet with 75 people attending over all
Messy Pentecost @ Cornerstone—24th May 2014
Although numbers were slightly lower, with 38 altogether, we had lots of fun making wind socks, kites and
windmills to help us think about the Holy Spirit coming down in the wind, and Revd Lyn had lots of fun with
the messy sponge painting, which is being used by Cornerstone as part of their Pentecost display. The
worship was led by Revd Louise and we finished with a very rousing rendition of “The Spirit lives to set us
free”, led by Chelsey from CYG on her flute and accompanied by drums, shakers and tambourines played by
the children. The food, this time Spaghetti Bolognese, was very ably cooked by the CYG leaders (with Laura
staying well out of the way!) and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Messy Sport @ Wibsey—19th July 2014
Children and their families joined the first Messy Church to be held at Wibsey. The theme was sport and we
were introduced to this by Rev Lyn Gregg.
Children enjoyed playing games such as ten pin bowling, giant jenga and penalty shootout. The messy crafts
available for both children and their parents were sponge ball painting and making chocolate medals and
other crafts were decorating trophies, making streamers, scratch card figures and flags. A special treat for
the children was face painting.
A super tea of jacket potatoes with beans and cheese followed by cake and custard was served by the ladies
in the kitchen who did a sterling job. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
Events run very well thanks to the volunteers who help with the preparation. Meeting to plan the events,
opening the buildings, putting the heating on, setting up tables, helping with the activities, preparing the
meals, washing up and cleaning the building afterwards are some examples of what various people around
the circuit have done to make Messy Church a success.
We are still looking for more volunteers; if you feel led to help in any way please do get in touch. We are very
grateful to all those that have taken the time to help and we ask the circuit as a whole to continue praying
for us. If you are on Facebook you can also support by liking the circuit Messy Church page: Bradford South
Messy Church
Deacon Irene Tafirenyika
The staff are involved in leading worship in a number of primary schools across the circuit.
Recent faith school inspections have encouraged the Church of England Primary Schools to
invite a broader spectrum of clergy to lead collective worship. This has offered us more
opportunities.
We currently lead worship in; Hill Top, Low Moor, St John's and St Oswald’s and are open to
invitations from other schools.
There is a particularly deep relationship building with Hill Top Primary School. The majority of
the collective worship by clergy is led by ourselves. Deacon Irene is involved in planning
worship with Key Stage 2 pupils for Key Stage 1 pupils, developing their involvement and
participation in worship. The school is developing a relationship with Aldersgate for school
productions and as well as advertising Messy Church is keen to host this within the school.
This relationship began in the work done during the Year of the Bible and Written by hand
taken to heart.
Laura the youth worker, has begun to work at relationships with two local secondary schools
with the aim of setting up some lunch time groups.
Rev Louise Carr
Easter has always been a very special time to me as a Christian. A time when we are
reminded so much of new life and new beginnings. And so how apt that my first week as
Chaplain at Rowanberries was Holy Week. It was a privilege to share with Rodney as he spent
time introducing me to the residents and my role, and I will be forever thankful to him for the
preparations he made before my arrival and the well established routine I stepped into,
making my first few days so much easier. With my background of Salvation Army ministry and
recently as a community support worker, the role as chaplain at Rowanberries is, I firmly
believe, the place where I am to be on the next stage of my Christian pathway, and a place
where I can be used to bless others. The residents and staff have made me feel very much at
home, and a very big word of appreciation to all who have assisted in leading services and
communion within the scheme. Visitors and volunteers are welcome to join us as we share in
fellowship and worship during the week, and if my experience is anything to go on, a very
warm welcome will be given.
Dawn Harris
Rowanberries Chaplain
Prompted by the teaching and information relating to Dementia offered at the District
Development Day, held last October and by the experience of Holiday at Home it was decided
that Bradford South should rise to the challenge of enabling those with dementia to engage in
meaningful worship. Our first Dementia Café Worship was held at Aldersgate Methodist
Church on April 5th 2014. Beginning at 2.00pm the service was planned to include well-known
hymns and readings, with a memory box of church and Sunday school memorabilia
prompting our memory of past experiences with the opportunity to share those stories with
one another in a relaxed and informal manner. The café aspect of the worship was well
served with copious cups of tea and coffee and platefuls of delicious cakes.
Although there were not many ‘guests’, the event was still regarded as a success. It offered us
the chance to consider what did and did not work, and how it might be improved. One such
consideration was how it might be opened up to a wider congregation, as this certainly seems
to be an opportunity that should be made available, not only to those with memory
problems, but those who find accessing Sunday morning worship, for whatever reason, a
struggle. The result of this is our venture into ‘Tea Party Worship’, the first of which will be
held on 20th September at Aldersgate at 2.00pm. The focus will still be on familiarity in
informal worship, using well-known hymns, readings etc. Worship will be served up with the
opportunity to share conversation over afternoon tea. An additional aspect of our provision
for the event is our desire to raise the issue of providing transport, as this is a specific need
identified through our experience with Holiday at Home. Hopefully Tea Party Worship will
prove successful, enabling it to be something made available across the circuit as a model for
both individual church and as circuit events.
Lyn Gregg, Mick Dewhirst & Alison Terrell
with thanks to Jenny Hardy and Mary Twentyman
for the memory box and the team of willing helpers.
The publication of the Annual report and the end of the financial year almost coincide at the
end of August and the beginning of September. There seems little point in republishing the
2012/13 accounts in this report and the 2013/14 accounts have not been yet finalised so the
most informative piece of information may be the budget for 2014/15.
Suffice to say that the circuit continues to be financially stable mainly due to the money it
received from the proceeds of sale for Cutler Heights and will receive from the impending
sale of Cooperville and Buttershaw. It is worthy of note, that in this way although these
churches are no longer open for worship, they continue to support the mission of the circuit
financially.
Please find listed below a copy of the Circuit Budget for 2014/15. This budget reflects a
potential deficit of £27000. In the short term such a deficit can be made up from reserves
however this is not sustainable long term and will need to be addressed over the coming
years.
Trevor Kershaw
Circuit Treasurer
Income
Assessments
Rent - Chapel Road
Rent - Gt Horton Road
Interest
Benevolence Fund
Whitehill Fund re Deacon
District Grant re Deacon
Tfr from MTF - Youth Worker
Model Trust Fund
Other Income
Expenditure
Ministers Payroll
Ministers Expenses
Lay Workers Salaries
Youth Worker Expenses
Manse Renewals
Manse Insurance
Cooperville Insurance
Quinquenials
Chapel Road Repairs
Chapel Road Management
Water Rates
Council Tax
Visiting Preacher Expenses
Local Preacher Expenses
Travel
Circuit Office Rent
Office expenses
District Assessment
Contribution to North
Touchstone
URC
Youth Work
Childrens and Family Work
Training
Hospitality
Benevolence Fund
IT/Audit fees
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
Our ministers and their families
Our stewards
Our treasurers who take care of our finances
Messy church, for those who help, and those being introduced to God perhaps for the
first time.
Our youth and those who work with them
The housebound and those in supported living. For the pastoral visitors and pastoral
workers who maintain contact with them.
Our local preachers
Our uniformed groups and those who work with them.
Local schools, particularly, Hill Top, Aldersgate, St Oswalds, Great Horton, St John’s
Bierley, Low Moor and Wibsey, where our ministers take assemblies.
Aldersgate
Clayton
Clayton Heights
Cornerstone
Ebenezer
Horton Bank
New Hey Road
Southfield Lane
Thornbury
Trinity
Wibsey
Wyke
For the members of Laisterdyke as they settle in other churches.
For peace and harmony between the diverse communities within Bradford
Methodist Connexion
Developing ecumenical relationships
Beacon, Chat and Spotlight
Chaplains around the city, including at the hospitals, Marie Curie chaplains and at the
courts
Rowanberries
Touchstone
Inn Churches and those who work with the homeless and with the foodbanks
Worldwide mission

In September 2014 Rev Sarah Jemison will join
the staff team.

Deepening our relationship with God

Development of Messy Church

Developing Tea Party Worship

Developing Sticky Faith

Establishing work in Secondary Schools

Development of Holiday at Home

Establishing Social Responsibility Team
to everyone who has supported the Circuit in the last year, but
especially to the following organisations:
West Yorkshire
Methodist District

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