Bradford North Circuit

Friends,  Normally when I start work in a new appointment there is a fairly clear idea where I should start and what I should do. This time it has been very different because of the pandemic.  Initially I was asked to get to know folk and the areas around Calverley, Christchurch Windhill, Crag Road and Haworth Road Churches. I have been impressed by the faithfulness of so many people in each of these Churches and feel the high levels of longing and the burdens of responsibility, that leaders in these Churches feel for the immediate future. They are not alone in this, for such feelings are repeated in all our Churches across Bradford and beyond.  Thinking prayerfully about my role in the future, the Circuit Leadership Team have agreed that I should spend the majority of my time in the Windhill and Crag Road communities (I am only half time in the Circuit). As your Deacon, I am pleased to be able to do this. A Deacon is called primarily to serve Christ by reaching out into...

Hello. I’m Deacon Merry Evans. I began working in Bradford North Circuit on September 1st this year – let me introduce myself. I grew up in Ilford, in the London Borough of Redbridge. I attended Church of England and Congregational churches as I grew up but eventually found my home in Methodism when I was 17. At school I was good at science, but greatly enjoyed music and drama too. I trained as a teacher in Nottingham and while there I met and married Karen. We have three grown up sons. Since I became a Deacon we have lived and worked in Salford, Stockton-on-Tees, Wakefield, Morley, Sheffield, and Leeds. The work in each of these places has been very different. Deacons are trained and appointed to circuits to further the witness of churches in the community. We are sometimes described as ‘bringing the Church into the World, and the World into the Church’. Much of our focus is on engaging with people ‘on the edge of society’ so sometimes my ministry has been outside of church settings ...

On Saturday 7 October, an event was held at St Andrew’s to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rev Andrew being diagnosed with diabetes. A service of thanksgiving for medical advances made within that time frame was led by Rev Sarah J. Hymns were sung, prayers were said and Andrew spoke of his experiences over the past 50 years. A feature of the service was a PowerPoint presentation, prepared by Beth, which graphically traced the development of understanding and treatment of diabetes, from 100 years ago to the present time. The journey took us from ‘primitive’ to ‘sophisticated’ and ‘technological’. We really must be grateful for the wonderful advances made within that period. Thank you, Beth, for teaching us about it. And of course we were reminded that during these 50 years, Andrew had also suffered kidney failure, which required regular dialysis until he received an organ transplant. Another wonder of modern medicine! A representative of Diabetes UK attended, and he presented ...

I have been asked to give a flavour of the minister’s week. Last week was untypical, so I am looking back to the previous week, which began with leading Sunday morning worship at Thornbury (in the South Circuit). Unfortunately, one of the church stewards had eaten the last of the fig rolls, so it was a disappointing end to what had been a good time of worship, including sharing around the Lord’s Table. On Monday, I led Bible Study at Cornerstone (Great Horton), a part of a regular commitment, but during Lent we offered open sessions across the circuit, studying a series on the Psalms, with about 15-16 people attending each session. From there, I went to join with staff colleagues from the North and South circuits and two of the Touchstone staff, for lunch at the Bradford Brewery, from which Rev. Graeme Dutton has been building up new relationships in his work in the city centre. I led a conversation reflecting on my time working across the two circuits. In the evening, I att...

As part of the Circuit Leadership Team Away Day recently, our minsters were asked to describe what they felt were their strengths, and so what they bring to the Ministry Team. In the last edition of The Link, we heard from Nick and Phil. This edition is the turn of Christine and Andrew. Rev  Christine Crabtree “I bring a passion for spirituality, for people coming to God direct and being built up in faith and in the knowledge that God loves them, however flawed they may perceive themselves to be; A sense that each person has a calling and this can get buried under what the church demands of them; A wish for people to accept who they are, individually and as congregations, rather than strive to be something they are not; A sense of dislocation with church and an understanding of those who are searching but not finding it here; A desire to see people freed from busyness and burden, and able to relax in God’s love; A desire to connect with people and not merely ad...

As part of the Circuit Leadership Team Away Day recently, our minsters were asked to describe what they felt were their strengths, and so what they bring to the Ministry Team. We have two contributions in this edition of The Link. There will be two more next month.   Rev Nick “I bring a desire and commitment, not that the church might do more mission, but that we will intentionally do all we do missionally; in other words consciously thinking through the opportunities each activity gives us to serve, share, show, tell, God’s love.  I want church life to be about people being enabled to move from being guests to being hosts, knowing they share in God’s mission. I am energised by enabling team-working (at all levels), creativity in worship (including all-age), imaginative encounter with scripture, and pastoral engagement and focused prayer.   I have much ecumenical experience, but have become wary of ecumenism as habit or for its own sake.  We should do things tog...

Hello, my name is Anna, and I am the circuit’s new Children’s Ministry Enabler. I am from Knaresborough in North Yorkshire. I became a Christian at around the age of 14. I was a member of a Methodist youth fellowship group and went with a friend from the age of 12. I was part of several Bible study groups, and away days, and my faith grew. When I was 15, a mission team from Cliff College came to the church that the group was part of, and I went to a church service for the first time, which was a turning point in my faith, and I have attended regularly from then on. I later attended Cliff College, was part of several missions myself and completed an Honours degree in Theology. In my spare time, I enjoy walking, running, listening to a wide range of music, and playing the keyboard (not that successfully!). I have enjoyed meeting and working with many of you, and I look forward to meeting and working with those of you who I haven’t met yet. Anna Anna started work ...

One of the joys of ministry is the diverse and rich range of conversations one has during a week. Over the last seven days I’ve spoken to someone just back from visiting Pakistan, and another person who hasn’t stepped outside her home in months. I’ve talked with an elderly lady in preparation for her husband’s funeral, and a young mum preparing for her daughter’s baptism, both conversations evidencing the complexity of human relationships. I’ve been part of a meeting considering the future of a church which meets in a listed building and is struggling to fund the maintenance, and in another heard of a new fellowship forming around a kitchen table. I’ve visited a lady in hospital showing great courage in the face of a scary diagnosis, and a gentleman whose fortitude in the light of major disability is amazing. Today I’m going around the shops local to one of our churches, taking the church’s offer to pray for the concerns of shopkeepers and customers, and later will...

My last formal academic study of theology ended in 2002. So part of my sabbatical was spent auditing a Masters level course in Celtic Mission and Spirituality. It is one thing to come across prayers and liturgies to use in worship – it’s quite another to know about the traditions from which they came and how they have evolved. The course allowed some reflection on what we may learn from the Celtic Church, in terms of how we are Church today, and how and where we minister and share the gospel. My Sabbatical was taken over Christmas. Instead of leading the services, I was able to see what someone else did. As ministers, we rarely get to see how anyone else leads or approaches worship. Christmas is also a time when families get together; this was the first time I have seen my Mum at Christmas in 10 years. I spent some time looking at current underlying principles of Youth Ministry. It made me realize that we can take these principles into adult ministry and mission. This will i...

Sharon, our Children's Work Enabler, left the Circuit at the end of March ... “Arriving at the first meeting of Sharon's support group, 8 years ago, little did I know I was stepping in to the path of a whirlwind! A whirlwind that would bring Jesus into the lives of so many children, firstly in the Woodhouse Grove circuit and then in the Bradford North circuit. The whirlwind that was Sharon! God bless Sharon.”  Rodney , Calverley . “Hi Sharon , This is the Naughty boy !!! from Crag Road. But today, for you, I am trying to be good. From Crag Road Methodist Church and High Crag Primary School, we give you our ‘Thanks’ for all the help and inspiration you have given us over the past few years. We all wish you the very best for the future, in whatever path you take. Every blessing.” David, Crag Road Sharon knows that Saltaire Methodist Church is going into Saltaire Primary School again this year. This work started with Sharon offering to lead a da...

It's that time of year when Methodist ministers move on to pastures new and Bradford North Circuit is no exception. During August we say farewell to our Superintendent, Rev Alistair Newton as he takes up superintendency of the Calderdale Circuit , to Rev Keith Hunt who is moving to Pudsey and to Rev Freddy Takavarasha on his move to Norwich.  We wish them and their families a smooth move and hope they settle quickly into their new homes and circuits, and pray for God's blessing on their ministries. Although we are not welcoming anyone new to the circuit, there will be a Welcoming & Commissioning Service at 7.30 pm on Thursday 6 September 2012 at Haworth Road Methodist Church for Rev Nick Blundell who becomes our Superintendent from 1 September 2012.  Nick and Julie plan to move back into a Circuit manse so we also wish them a smooth move into their new home. We also remember the rest of the ministry team in our prayers; they may not be moving, but they will be ...

A service of welcome will take place for our new minister within the circuit, Rev Phil Drake: Wednesday 31 August 2011 7.00 pm Northcliffe Everyone is welcome.