All friends around The Wrekin

'All friends around the Wrekin' was a Victorian song in my grandfather's collection. As a child I always wondered where The Wrekin was. Now I know!

The President and I spent last weekend on an invigorating tour of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District, hosted by the District Chaair John Howard and his wife Mary and superbly organised by Brenda Shuttleworth, the District Administrator.

Wrekin College in Wellington was the setting for a District day entitled 'Channels of Peace - encounters with the World Church'.

The District has formed a link with the Church in Rwanda and this was an opportunity to meet Anastase and Julienne (pictured with myself and the President) who were on a three week visit to Britain. They spoke powerfully of the after-effects of the genocide in their country and of the work of reconciliation being undertaken by the churches.

Earlier in the year a group of 19 young people from the District had visited Rwanda and they told their stories - for many it had been a life changing experience. They spoke of the warmth of the welcome they had received, the singing and dancing, the wealth of faith and the material poverty of their hosts, the testimonies of those who had lost many members of their families .

There were opportunities to watch DVD's and to hear about the work of the Methodist Relief and Development Fund in Ethiopia from their representative Susanna.

The President talked about how the World Church was encouraging and challenging the Church in this country and I explored some of the effects of the current global financial crisis on the poorest nations in the world.

We were well catered for by the ladies of the Circuit (pictured) and it felt a really mind- and heart-expanding day. At its end I was pleased to meet yet another predecessor of mine, Leon Murray (pictured below), whose daughter Clare had been one of the District Youth team who made such an effective presentation.

The previous evening the President and I had been entertained to a splendid meal hosted by the Black Country Industrial and Urban Mission.

This was a good ecumenical gathering with Anglicans and Quakers and I was able to lead a lively discussion on Ethical Business - there was understandably much comment about the current economic situation and the implications for the way business (not just the banking business) is organised in the future. Being positive, let us hope that the lessons being learnt are not quickly forgotten...

City Centre Mission - Peterborough and all over

(Above - Alison and Lisa at Peterborough
Below - Alison, Mark, Carrie and Phil :City Centre Networkers at Swanwick)

Having survived the Youth Conference I journeyed from Northampton to Peterborough on a wild and woolly evening for a Circuit Service at Westgate Church. This is a joint Methodist/URC Church which has major redevelopment plans as part of a city centre development.

I was welcomed by the Minister Kerry Tankard and the Superintendent Jan Tate; Alison Barnett provided an entertaining drama and Anthea Cox was among the musicians. It was good to catch up with another predecessor of mine, Brian Thornton, who was flying off the following day to see friends from the Methodist Church in Jamaica.

On the Friday of last week I had been invited to speak at the City Centre Network Conference at the Hayes Centre in Swanwick.

This brought together some 60 presbyters, deacons and lay workers who are involved in a whole variety of mission activity in town and city centres up and down the country. It was encouraging to get a feel for some very exciting and innovative work which is being undertaken by our churches - not always in the most comfortable of settings.

But under the active chairmanship of the Rev Phil Mason there is a creative buzz around the Network members - the Conference Centre Manager said he had not heard so much laughter from any other group staying there!

They had already been inspired by the other two speakers - Ann Morisey and the Rev Martyn Atkins - and were brought down to earth by my own talk on some of the legal issues surrounding the new Charities Act and what to look out for when undertaking new building schemes. However, a final Communion Service sent us on our way with lighter step and a renewed sense of what we are about - being living signs of God's Kingdom in the midst of the city.

Methodist Youth in Conference

The last Methodist Youth Conference in its present form was held at the King's Park Centre in Northampton; a good mixture of debate, worship and fun - and no doubt a couple of late nights for many who attended.

Each District had sent two representatives but there were other young people there as well ranging in age from 13 to early twenties.

The debates included a concern about encouraging younger people to consider the ordained ministry as well as others on broader issues. Sarah Malik was elected as the new Youth President and there was a general looking forward to a wider engagement of young people through the new Youth Participation Strategy - this will help Districts appoint a paid part-time young person as a Youth Enabler.

As always it was the conversation over meals and in the breaks which provided some of the most stimulating encounters. I came away with a sense that we are well blessed by a number of young people who are passionate about the Gospel and how it relates to our contempoary culture - and also a conviction that a refreshed Methodist Church has a valuable contribution to make.

more stories from Yorkshire

I am discovering one of the ways the President (and VP) can be used is to open doors quicker than can sometimes be done locally. I had been invited to preach at Ripon Cathedral on the Sunday morning and it turned o.t to be a wonderful event. The two Methodist Churches in Ripon closed and joined the congregation in the Cathedral whilst the young people and families from all three congregations gathered in the Allhallowgate Methodist Church for all age worship. Our worship in the Cathedral was very special, as was that at Allhallowsgate and there was encouraging conversation among lots of people about doing more together. Thank you to the Dean, Keith Jukes (In the middle of the photo)and to the superintendent minister, Graham Sturdy, for enabling this to happen

The younger minister is Richard Andrew, Director of York Institute for Community Theology. He not only accomapnied me on the Sunday but arranged a good morning with the Vice Chancellor of York St John University and also some staff members. This is an excellent Institute which grew out of a local initiative and is providing excellent trainin g and formation for many lay and ordained people.

The evening worship on the Sunday was at Selby for a circuit service.This was really encouraging to see such a large congregation....but I didn't take any photos (sorry).....and then there was a reception for many of those from across the District who helped in a variety of ways at the Scarborough Conference, a world Church evening (see david's entry) and I understand they raised about £1,500 fantastic!






I spent time on the farm....only photo of Stephen Burgess looking at some cows!!and even a tour of Flyingdales...which was fascinating.

Thank you to all who cared for me, talked to me and shared with me during my time with you. There is so much to encourage and stories to tell of God's amazing grace.

What a glorious day - playing on steam trains!

What a glorious day I had on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway along with the Chair of District, Stephen Burgess. I am aware that a large number of ministers are fanatical about steam railways but it has never been a passion of mine........but after this day out I have seen it all in a new light!!



It began with three men from the same community who have a love of steam trains. Nigel Hardwick, the District Property secretary; Peter Bowes, the priest in charge of St Michael's and Tim Bywater who is the Roman Catholic Ecumenical Officer.

They have 'days out on the train' from time to time and it is doing wonders for ecumecial reraltionships...perhaps a model for more of us to follow! This was their gift to the President of the Methodist Conference - thank you.



We had a scrumptious packed lunch on the Richmond to Grosmont leg and I was then invited to travel on the footplate for the return journey and now understand what an honour this was.


The train driver, anxious to get a photo of a Church leader doing sdoemnw ork, invited me to stoke up the fire..........remind you of anything?

Missionaries in Yorkshire

Going from Lancashire into Yorkshire I had a wonderful seven days in the York and Hull District meeting many missionaries from across the Pennines as well as some locals (who were very friendly). It was a very imaginative programme and I was able to meet a real cross section of people. I met with the lay workers at Ambleforth abbey for a Quiet Day. Listening to those who were there I continued to be encouraged that more and more circuits are seeing the potential of creative lay worker appointments which complement the ministry of ordained colleagues. A CDIM Day enabled me to be with a large number of presbyters and deacons from across the District. Sharing together about leadership in our changing Church seemed to meet a real need among those of us who were there.

I was deeply impressed by a new initiative of the Methodist Church inH axby. Here they have created a 'state of the art' coffee shop costing about £465,000 to purchase and fit out. In their eighth week they Aroma Coffee Shop was full when we entered and there was a real buzz. As I chatted to Cameron, the minister, people began to leave (nothing to do with us!) and by the time we left it was filling again as people came for lunch. The shop has a really good ambience and recently has ahd a brilliant review in the local paper from 'the mystery shopper'.

They have struggled with how to evangelise. 'What makes this coffee shop different from any other?' They have begun in the early weeks with some imaginative ways including being a collecting point (in the window) for the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal and then later inviting people to tie a ribbon on a bare branch during the weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday. It would be good to know how other such expressions of church are tacking this particular issue.

Along the coast from Hull to Filey

(above - Derringham Bank

below - Filey)

It was great to see a full Church at Derringham Bank in Hull where they were celebrating their 75th Anniverary. They have a thriving Boys Brigade which in these days of equality have a good number of girls too; I was also impressed with the Traidcraft stall. The children and adults had been making up shoe boxes to send as practical Chirstmas gifts to children in Eastern Europe.

The Church is currently undergoing a redevelopment programme and the foyer (pictured) is being converted so that it can serve as a coffee lounge at the entrance of the building - which is in a prominent position at the heart of the local community.

Stephen Burgess and I were welcomed by an energetic team of stewards and the local minister, Keith Parr. Also in the congregation was the Rev. Trevor Dixon who had grown up in the Church and was marking his 65th birthday with a return visit.

We had an opportunity over lunch to meet the Super of the Hull Central Mission the Rev Luke Smith together with his wife, the Rev Viv Smith, who serves in the Hull (East) Circuit; with them was Deacon Peter Ogle who is appointed to both Circuits - clearly a man who can multi-task! They have big challenges but a big vision too.

From there we travelled all the way up the coast to Filey to be met by the Rev Chris Kirkman.

He has overseen a major refurbishment of the Church premises and it really is a very welcoming place to be. A circuit choir added to the colour of the worship and it was good to hear encouraging stories of a Boys Brigade which had in increased from 6 to 22 over the last couple of years; and of a music festival which has brought many people through the doors of the Church and will be held again in 2009.

Overall a very positive visit to the York and Hull District. Our thanks to the District Chair and to Heather Shipman for all their careful organisation.