District Chair Revd. Gill Newton

Gill Newton was elected to be President of the Methodist Conference this year (2023). You can read about her experiences in the "Gill on Tour" blog at the end of this page. During her presidential year, the role of District Chair will be covered by the Deputy Chair, Revd Julie Coates.

Gill Newton became Chair of the Sheffield Methodist District in September 2014. Entering Circuit Ministry in 1997, after spending 16 years in retail banking, she has previously served in the Barnsley
and Bramhall & Wythenshawe Circuits. She is married to Leslie, who serves as the Chair of the Yorkshire North & East Methodist District and they have one daughter Laura who is currently studying at Sheffield Hallam University.

The role of Chair requires Gill to have oversight of and pastoral responsibility for all the ordained staff within the District and to develop particularly close working relationships with Superintendent Ministers, District Officers and District Staff.

Together with members of the District Leadership Team she is keen to discern missional priorities for the District. In addition, she looks to offer support and guidance to Circuits and churches as
they develop their local sense of mission, through regular sharing in Circuit Leadership Team Meetings and by preaching in local contexts across the District.

Gill acts as the District's representative in ecumenical and civic settings and within the Methodist Connexion she currently chairs the Ministries Committee, is a member of the Stationing Committee and the Strategy and Resources Committee and sits on the board of TMCP.

Beyond Methodism Gill is National Chaplain to Girls' Brigade England and Wales and a member of the Walk to Emmaus Community.

In her spare time she enjoys cross stitch, crochet, reading and is starting to enjoy running!